Kamal Haasan nominated to Rajya Sabha with DMK support
text_fields
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin and MNM founder Kamal Haasan after signing an agreement on March 9, 2024. (File photo)
Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday named actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan among its nominees for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for June 19. The announcement was made by Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin, confirming Haasan’s entry into Parliament as part of a political understanding between the DMK and his party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM).
Of the four Rajya Sabha seats up for election from the state, the DMK will contest three, while one has been allotted to the MNM. Kamal Haasan, founder-president of MNM, has been nominated as his party’s candidate for the Upper House, backed by the DMK.
The DMK’s candidates for the three remaining seats include P. Wilson, a senior advocate and sitting Rajya Sabha MP; S.R. Sivalingam, a veteran DMK leader and former Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; and acclaimed Tamil poet and writer Rokaiya Malik, widely known by her pen name, Kavignar Salma.
P. Wilson, who holds degrees in science and law, is a prominent advocate at the Supreme Court of India and has been instrumental in representing Tamil Nadu in several significant legal cases. He remains a trusted legal advisor within the DMK leadership.
S.R. Sivalingam’s nomination marks the return of an experienced administrator to national politics. Known for his service in public health and welfare, his selection reflects the DMK’s strategy to combine legal acumen with governance experience in its parliamentary presence.
Rokaiya Malik, alias Kavignar Salma, is a leading voice in Tamil literature and is renowned for her poetry and fiction that delve into themes of gender, identity, and social justice. A recipient of multiple literary awards, her nomination underscores the DMK’s emphasis on cultural representation and its commitment to empowering women through political platforms.
The decision to accommodate MNM in the Rajya Sabha elections is widely viewed as a strategic effort by the DMK to fortify its alliance and expand its influence in national politics. This development marks a key milestone in Kamal Haasan’s political journey as he prepares to make his debut in Parliament.
With the ruling alliance commanding a comfortable majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the election is expected to be a smooth affair, virtually guaranteeing the victory of all four candidates.
With IANS inputs
