In a dramatic twist ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, actor-politician Kamal Haasan announced that his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), will not contest the polls but extend unconditional support to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The announcement came minutes after Kamal Haasan arrived at the DMK headquarters amid high expectations of a formal seat-sharing agreement. Instead, MNM released a statement saying it was “not okay” with the number of seats offered and the condition that its candidates contest on the DMK’s symbol. Sources indicate that the DMK had offered MNM just two to three seats, insisting the party fight under its symbol. MNM, however, was keen on contesting at least 12 seats to retain and strengthen its “battery torch” symbol, which the party said carries deep emotional value for its cadre. Despite the disagreement, Kamal Haasan struck a conciliatory tone, calling the decision “a seed for a new civility in electoral politics.” He emphasised that the larger goal was to ensure the alliance’s victory against “communal forces” and asserted that “Dravidian Model Government 2.0 is required.”
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