Kamal Haasan political party Makkal Needhi Maiam launched

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal declared that Kamal Haasan’s newly launched political party would break the record of AAP in winning the majority of seats in Tamil Nadu.

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday made his plunge into politics formal, with the launch of his political party ‘Makkal Needhi Maiam‘ (People Justice Centre), which, Haasan claims, will seek to provide governance free of corruption, stop playing games on the basis of religion and castes, and adopt a centrist approach without swaying Left or Right too much. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who endorsed Haasan’s party, was present at the floating of the new party in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Haasan also declared that he would not indulge in the politics of “freebies”, a practice the Dravidian parties have made famous in Tamil Nadu. “I am not your leader, I am your tool… this gathering is full of leaders,” Haasan said moments before announcing the party’s name.

In a 45-minute speech, Kamal Haasan said his party would be the army for Tamilisai Soundararajan‘ war for justice. “Kejriwal has started my campaign today itself. As a courtesy, I wanted to avoid saying certain things, but Kejriwal has launched my political campaign because he knows time is short for me.”

Replying to questions from his fans, Haasan said he would serve the people of Tamil Nadu till his last and would like to leave a party for the next three or four generations. “There will be no permanent chief ministers if my party is voted to power,” he said.
Haasan said his outfit was committed to politics free from “games of caste and religion” and would focus on good governance.

Referring to the cash-for-vote practice apparently prevalent in the state, Haasan said he would not do any of that. “You have undersold your vote. If you had voted for a good party, you would have got Rs 600,000 per year as income and not just Rs 6,000 per vote,” he said.