Kamal Haasan to kick-off election campaigning on Sunday

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party president Kamal Haasan will launch his campaign for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from December 13, the party said.

During his four-day schedule, Haasan will visit Madurai, Theni, Dindugul, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanniyakumari districts, a statement from the party said late on Thursday.

With Tamil Nadu set to go to polls early next year, the political climate in the state is heating up. The BJP and the AIADMK have announced that their alliance shall continue and the DMK and Congress are on track to fight the elections together. MNM, which is among the smaller parties, might have a chance to align themselves and flip the tables, analysts said.


Earlier last month, Haasan had said his party has emerged as the third front in Tamil Nadu. He did not make his stance on an alliance clear then but had said that he would seek the support of superstar Rajinikanth. This was before the actor put all speculation to rest and announced the launch of his political party in January, 2021.

However, analysts believe that an alliance between the two is unlikely as their ideologies "clash." Rajinikanth had said he would bring back 'spiritual politics' to Tamil Nadu and many feel his leaning is more towards the policies of the BJP whereas Haasan has been a firm critic of the BJP's policies and has made no qualms about it.

The actor-turned-politician's outfit had been among those that supported and participated in the Bharat Bandh earlier this week.

Haasan launched MNM in February 2018 and the party but did create a stir in last year's Lok Sabha elections.