Actor Kamal Haasan's party says Tamil Nadu needs Velai (job) yatra, not Vel yatra

Chennai: Entrepreneur and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) General Secretary CK Kumaravel said Rajinikanth's political foray is "a great opportunity in disguise" as it further strengthens the narrative of an alternative to the two Dravidian parties that have ruled the State for decades. He said talks will be on to rope him into the fold of the "third front."

"Without Rajinikanth, the people would not have seen that there is such a strong alternative to the DMK and AIADMK. In case our party joins forces with Rajinikanth's party, the third front will consolidate further and will lead to what I call the 1+1 equals 11 effect. There definitely will be talks once he (Rajinikanth) starts the party," Kumaravel said.

MNM chief, actor Kamal Haasan has spoken about being open to joining hands with the megastar recently leading to speculation about whether such an alliance would work considering the two have opposing ideologies. However, Kumaravel dismissed this and said that he did not see much of a difference in both the leaders' ideology.


"Kamal Haasan is a rationalist and our party is not anti-God. We are only asking people to think and decide. Rajinikanth has spoken about 'spiritual politics' and spirituality is about knowing yourself," he said.

However, he was quick to add that if the 70-year-old superstar supports something like the BJP's Vel yatra, MNM would not align with him.

"Tamil Nadu does not support religious politics and it is not a Vel yatra but a Velai (job) yatra that the State needs," he said. "So if Rajinikanth supports something like the Vel yatra, we will not align with him."

He said MNM's main objective would be to provide an alternative to Dravidian giants and that the party will look to form alliances, but not with the DMK and AIADMK.

Further, over the row about the party's election symbol, he said they have filed a petition with the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday after the EC denied them permission to use the torchlight.

"We are still trying and have sent a petition to the EC as we have worked hard to popularise the torchlight it and the symbol is rightfully ours," he said.