Kamal Haasan, a full-time actor and part-time politician has been facing significant setbacks in his political endeavours despite his ambition to win either a state assembly or parliamentary election, his efforts, including the formation of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party in Tamil Nadu, have been largely unsuccessful. He initially relied on his screen glamour fame and fan base from his acting career to sway voters, but this strategy proved to be a disappointment.
From the outset, Haasan positioned MNM against the Dravidian parties, particularly the DMK. However, his past eagerness to secure a parliamentary seat seemed to contradict this stance, leading MNM to be perceived as a secondary option aligned with the very parties it aimed to oppose. This contradiction caused frustration within the party ranks, with some members defecting to more established political entities.
MNM, initiated in 2018, entered the political arena by contesting in two significant battles, notably the 2019 Lok Sabha General Elections. Despite contesting solo across all 36 seats, its performance resulted in a modest 3.72% vote share, with a majority of its candidates failing to retain their deposits. Subsequent efforts in the 2021 State Legislative Assembly elections saw MNM forming the People First Alliance in coalition with parties like IJK, AISMK, TNJK, JDS, among others. However, this endeavor fell short of expectations, yielding no substantial gains.
Digging A Grave For Himself
When all the attempts failed Finally, Kamal Haasan shifted its allegiance towards Congress, extending support to EVKS Elangovan’s campaign during the by-elections in the Erode East constituency. Subsequently, there were intense behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding his potential inclusion in the DMK-Congress alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Furthermore, he actively participated in Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and was invited to the swearing-in ceremony of the Congress Chief Minister in Karnataka. Consequently, many anticipated his inclusion in the Congress-led I.N.D.I.Alliance.
Regarding seat allocation for Haasan’s party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, it was anticipated that they would support the Congress party nationally and secure up to 4 seats. However, Haasan’s exclusion from the negotiation talks left Maiam activists discontented. While there were expectations atleast Maiam would secure 2 seats in the DMK alliance, ultimately, no Lok Sabha seats were allocated to Haasan’s party, and only one Rajya Sabha seat was granted, much to the dismay of his supporters.
Expressing disappointment, several leaders within the Makkal Needhi Maiam criticized Haasan’s decision, arguing that they should have been allotted at least one of the 9 seats given to the Congress party in Tamil Nadu. Haasan, who canceled overseas shooting for his film ‘Thug Life” to focus on the election, has been seen in Chennai for 3 weeks but has refrained from participating in significant political events. Notably, he was not invited to the recent I.N.D.I Alliance general meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi.
As soon as Congress sidelined Kamal Haasan, deeming him and his party more of a potential burden than an ally, he redirected his attention towards the DMK. The DMK’s inclusive approach in accommodating various parties led him to feel marginalized, as he was offered only a Rajya Sabha seat, rendering him and his party seemingly ineffective. Despite his initial defiance, symbolized by his election Ad throwing torchlight and breaking the TV, where he vowed not to align with the DMK, he eventually found himself campaigning for the very party. Below are instances where Kamal Haasan campaigned for the DMK, VCK and CPI neglecting the Congress.
March 29 – Erode – DMK
March 30 – Salem – DMK
April 2 – Trichy – DMK
April 3 – Chidambaram – VCK
April 6 – Sriperumbudur, Chennai – DMK
April 7 – Chennai – DMK
April 10 – Madurai – CPI(M)
April 11 – Thoothukudi – DMK
April 14 – Tirupur – CPI
April 15 – Coimbatore – DMK
April 16 – Pollachi – DMK
Although critics warned that Kamal’s endorsement of the DMK-Congress coalition in the 2023 by-elections could spell the demise of both him and his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, from Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, he persisted with his choice. Despite Kamal citing the decision as being backed by consensus within the party’s executive committee, dissent has emerged among party members, as evidenced by protests against promotional materials in several districts, particularly in Madurai. Critics drew comparisons between this move and Vice President Mahendran’s switch to the DMK following the assembly elections.
Now, Kamal Haasan finds his decisions facing severe ridicule on social media, with all these setbacks tracing back to the very party he once disdained. Why did Kamal Haasan, originally an actor, choose to start a party in the first place?
Kamal Haasan’s political journey can be likened to the Tamil proverbial story of “Ilavu Kaatha Killi,” where the parrot guards the cotton-bearing tree, not knowing it won’t yield fruit but only cotton. Despite the parrot’s hope and dedication, it ultimately faces disappointment when the cotton doesn’t ripen into something edible.
இலவு காத்த கிளி கமலஹாசன். 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/GQ80Fhjc3l
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) April 23, 2024
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