Kamal Haasan, the leader of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), and now Rajya Sabha MP backed by the DMK, has emphasized that his party’s alliance with the DMK is not just a political partnership but something “more than sacred.” During an advisory meeting on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry’s upcoming assembly elections, which is being held from 18 September to the 21 September 2025 at Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai, Haasan consulted with district administrators from Chennai on 18 September 2025. In the evening, he continued his discussions with administrators from Kanchipuram and the party’s local branches.
In the coming days, Kamal Haasan will hold consultations in various regions: Coimbatore tomorrow morning, Madurai in the evening, Nellai and Trichy the day after, and finally in Villupuram, Salem, and Puducherry on the 21st. These meetings will involve the party’s state administrators, branch leaders, and MPs, all of whom will meet Haasan to discuss MNM’s strategies and preparations for the elections.
When asked about the popularity of MNM, sources say Kamal Haasan is actively gathering input from the party’s leaders about which constituencies they can contest in the upcoming assembly elections. He is also focusing on strengthening the party’s foundation and improving its organizational structure.
Speaking to the party’s administrators, Haasan stated, “I am not the living Kamaraj. My real name is Parthasarathy.” He went on to quote poet Bharathi, who had advocated for a society without caste divisions and suggested conducting a caste-based census. Haasan also expressed his belief that politics should avoid exploitation and should focus on nationalism.
Haasan further elaborated that leaders should emerge from within the party after him, stressing the importance of continuity. “Some say we’ve joined the DMK, but the DMK itself originated from the Justice Party, and our party’s name also reflects justice. This is not just an alliance, it is something more than sacred,” he remarked. According to Haasan, MNM is the only centrist party in Asia, and the country should avoid being divided into rigid left and right ideologies.
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MNM, launched in 2018 as an alternative to the two dominant Dravidian parties, has yet to secure a significant electoral victory. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Haasan contested from Coimbatore South but narrowly lost to the BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan.
Sources within the party told NDTV that the current focus is on identifying constituencies where MNM can have a stronger presence, based on the 2021 results. They are working to consolidate support in areas where the party already has a base. “We are strategizing to strengthen our position and expand our presence on the ground,” said a party functionary.
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Haasan announced an alliance with the DMK, calling it crucial to counter the BJP. In recognition of this partnership, the DMK facilitated Haasan’s entry into the Rajya Sabha. These ongoing consultations are seen as essential for MNM as it seeks a meaningful role in the alliance, particularly in the party’s first assembly election as a partner in the ruling front.
(With inputs from Daily Thanthi)
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