Actor, poet, and legal luminary are among those set to represent T.N. in Rajya Sabha
An actor-turned politician, a legal luminary, a littérateur, and a senior party functionary are set to represent Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha, as DMK and its ally Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) announced their candidates on Wednesday for the biennial elections.
Actor Kamal Haasan, a recipient of the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, and the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier), among others, would need no introduction in the Upper House.
The founder of MNM, an ally in the DMK-led alliance, is conversant in multiple south Indian languages. Rajya Sabha MP and former Advocate-General P. Wilson is among the prominent legal luminaries from the State. His role in getting a historic judgment for the Tamil Nadu government in The State of Tamil Nadu Vs. The Governor of Tamil Nadu case was the latest feather in his cap and underlined his legal prowess. During his previous tenure in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Wilson was among those who moved several private Bills.
Announcing her entry into the world of books with her debut Irandam Jaamankalin Kathai in 2004, A. Rokkaiah Malik alias Kavignar Salma has been challenging orthodoxy around gender and sexuality through her writings. A senior functionary in the DMK's women wing, Ms. Salma will be another Tamil voice in the Rajya Sabha hailing from Tiruchi region after her party colleague and MP Tiruchi Siva.
DMK's Salem East district secretary S.R. Sivalingam is among the three district secretaries in Salem district, the native district of AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The other two district secretaries of Salem — T.M. Selvaganapathy and R. Rajendran — are Lok Sabha MP and State Minister respectively.
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