Kamal Haasan throws hat in 2019 poll ring, says open to alliance

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder president Kamal Haasan on Saturday announced that his party has decided to contest in the next year's Lok Sabha elections in alliance with like-minded parties.

The party's executive and general council which met here has authorised the actor to take the decision on the like-minded alliance partner.

"I will definitely contest the Lok Sabha polls," Haasan said in response to a query. He also added that a committee headed by his party's vice president Dr Mahendran would select candidates for the all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He said that his party's campaign would focus on Tamil Nadu's development and injustices meted out to the state.

When asked whether he would align with Congress or BJP, Haasan said that he would not align with a party that wanted to change the DNA of Tamil Nadu. To a question whether he is ruling out an alliance with BJP, he said, "It is your view. We have our own decisions." Interestingly, it was BJP which wants to uproot Dravidian politics from the Tamil Nadu. Haasan has been a strong advocate of Dravidian movement and its progressive policies but had ruled out any alliance with either the ruling AIADMK or the principal opposition party DMK in the state.

When reminded about his earlier statement that MNM would like to align with Congress, the actor-politician said that option continues to be there while ruling out an alliance with the BJP. "The BJP has been ruled out in at least five states," he said. He further said the question of whether his party would lead or remain part of the alliance would be determined by the size of an alliance.

Haasan launched his party in February this year after continuously slamming the ruling AIADMK government on various front. At one point of time, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami challenged the actor to enter politics to respond to his charges.

Now all eyes on Rajinikanth's move

• Haasan's entry to politics also coincided with his cine rival Rajinikanth's desire to join politics.
• Both the actors are hoping to fill the leadership vacuum in Tamil Nadu.
• Demise of former CMs Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi have deprived state politics of stardom.