Latest news with #MakkalNeedhiMaiam
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Kamal Haasan promises to be ‘voice of Tamil Nadu' in Delhi, advocates for centrism as he takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP
Actor Kamal Haasan took oath as a Rajya Sabha Member on Friday. The actor nd Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief delivered his oath in Tamil, drawing loud desk thumps from fellow Parliamentarians. On his X account, he shared a long statement to announce the beginning of a 'new chapter'. MNM, MP Kamal Haasan during his oath ceremony in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab) ( Sansad TV ANI Video Grab) Kamal Haasan's statement In his note, Kamal began, 'Today, as I rose to take the affirmation as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, I did so with a heart full of humility and a conscience weighed by responsibility. I have sworn to uphold the Constitution of India not as a ritual of formality, but as a solemn promise to serve its spirit with fidelity, courage, and conscience. This moment is not mine alone. I share it with my people, whose voices I carry into the chambers of power. I share it with the soil of Tamil Nadu that has nurtured me a land that has produced poets and revolutionaries, thinkers and reformers, and above all, citizens who believe deeply in justice, dignity, and self-respect. I also carry the invisible, enduring presence of my father a freedom fighter who taught me that liberty must be lived, not merely won. In my veins flows not just his blood, but his values forged in the crucible of our struggle for independence, tempered by the dreams of Gandhiji, the intellect of Ambedkar, and the conviction of Periyar.' He addressed his perspective on leading with centrism, and added, 'It is in that spirit that I speak of centrism, not as a compromise but as a conviction. Centrism, the political ideology of Makkal Needhi Maiam, is the art of balance- of embracing both equity and efficiency, liberty and fraternity, tradition and progress. It is a philosophy not rooted in hesitation but in harmony.' He added, 'India's freedom movement itself was a coalition of diverse dreams and ideologies. It was not a monochrome march, but a magnificent mosaic - Gandhiji's non-violence, Ambedkar's constitutionalism, Nehru's pluralism, Patel's pragmatism, and Periyar's rationalism - all found space under the same sky.' He concluded, 'I will strive to be the voice of Tamil Nadu in Delhi- clear, compassionate and committed. I will speak not for one community, but for the common good. Not for narrow gain, but for national growth.' Kamal had filed his nomination papers on June 6 at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, accompanied by chief minister MK Stalin, deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and senior leaders from alliance partners including VCK's Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK's Vaiko, and Tamil Nadu Congress chief Selvaperunthagai. On the work front, he was last seen in Mani Ratnam's Thug Life.
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Shruti Haasan promises a brave new world as father Kamal Haasan joins Rajya Sabha
Actor Kamal Haasan was recently sworn in as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) in New Delhi. COngratulating him on the political milestone, his actor-daughter Shruti Haasan wrote an emotional note on social shared a picture with Kamal on her Instagram story which read, "Love you and proud of you Appa. Always." She added another picture on her Instagram post with her father with a message expressing pride over his achievement. Shruti Haasan congratulated Kamal Haasan on being sworn-in as Rajya Sabha MP. (Credit: Instagram/shrutzhaasan) advertisementHer caption read, "My dearest Appa, today marks the journey of your steps into a brave new world . Watching you take your oath in the Rajya Sabha with your signature voice echoing through the chambers with strength and gravitas was a moment forever etched in my mind. As always, I wish for you to be happy and achieve all you hope to achieve." She added folded hands, heart and bad omen emojis. Shruti further wrote, "Love always. always, always." Shruti Haasan joind her father Kamal Haasan in the national capital. (Credit: Instagram/shrutzhaasan) The 'Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire' actor flew to the national capital to support her father. Kamal made his parliamentary debut on Friday, July 25, taking oath as a Rajya Sabha MP in Tamil during the fifth day of the Monsoon Session. The 'Thug Life' actor was elected unopposed to the upper house in June as part of the DMK-led bloc. Following the ceremony, he greeted Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman to the media ahead of the swearing-in, the actor-turned-parliamentarian said, "I am proud and honoured. I'm going to swear in and register my name. As an Indian, I will do my duty."Kamal's party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), had joined hands with the DMK-led alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As part of the seat-sharing arrangement, MNM was assured a Rajya Sabha seat in exchange for its actor was last seen in director Mani Ratnam's 'Thug Life' (2025). He will next be seen in 'Indian 3' (2025).Kamal is also likely to have a longer screen time as the antagonist in the sequel to Nag Ashwin's 'Kalki 2898 AD'.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kamal Haasan pens heartfelt note after taking oath as Rajya Sabha MP
NEW DELHI: Renowned filmmaker and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan made his Parliament debut as he took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP on Friday. His election to the Upper House marks a significant milestone in his political journey. The 69-year-old actor turned politician found MNM in 2018. He was nominated with the support of the ruling DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. He was promised a Rajya Sabha seat in return for MNM's support during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Hassan was given a desk-thumping welcome by fellow Parliamentarians as he read the oath in Tamil. Later in the afternoon, the MNM founder released a heartfelt note addressing the people of the country and his state, Tamil Nadu in which Hassan shared thoughts on the ideology of his party, self-commitments and expressed gratitude towards people who had supported him. The actor, who is widely loved for multiple memorable performances, stated that he had sworn to uphold the Constitution of India, not as a ritual of formality but as a solemn promise to serve it spirit with 'fidelity, courage and conscience. 'I do not arrive in parliament as a mere critic but as a committed contributor to the idea of India. Where I must oppose, I will do so with reason. Where I must support, I will do so with conviction. And where I must advise, I will do so constructively - not to score points, but to build consensus,' he wrote.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
On Day 1 As MP, Kamal Haasan Raises Polarisation, Seeks Centrism
Chennai: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, freshly sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP, has released a deeply reflective open letter addressed to citizens of the country including his home state, Tamil Nadu. He laid out his vision for the country, underscoring the need for centrism, ethical governance, diversity and national unity at a time he described as a "historic crossroads." Mr Haasan, the founder and president of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), described his entry into parliament not as a formality, but as a solemn promise to uphold the Constitution with "fidelity, courage, and conscience." "I do not arrive in parliament as a mere critic," he wrote, "but as a committed contributor to the idea of India. Where I must oppose, I will do so with reason. Where I must support, I will do so with conviction. And where I must advise, I will do so constructively - not to score points, but to build consensus." In what is clearly a foundational declaration of his political ideology, Mr Haasan passionately advocated for centrism - not as a compromise, but as a conviction. He described centrism as the core ideology of MNM, calling it "the art of balance - of embracing both equity and efficiency, liberty and fraternity, tradition and progress." A new Chapter unfolds. — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 25, 2025 Reiterating unity in diversity and drawing inspiration from India's freedom movement, Mr Haasan wrote, "It was not a monochrome march, but a magnificent mosaic - Gandhiji's non-violence, Ambedkar's constitutionalism, Nehru's pluralism, Patel's pragmatism, and Periyar's rationalism - all found space under the same sky." At the heart of this movement, he said, was a spirit of centrism that could once again help "rescue our Republic from the perils of division." Mr Haasan warned that the country stands at a pivotal moment - "not of comfort, but of consequence." With the world's largest youth population, he said India is blessed with the energy of tomorrow but must not squander that future with complacency. "The cries for equity, for employment, for education, and for ethical governance must not echo unheard in the corridors of power," he said. He promised to be a "clear, compassionate, and committed" voice for Tamil Nadu in Delhi. "I will not speak for one community but for the common good. Not for narrow gain, but for national growth," the letter read. Mr Haasan paid homage to his late father, a freedom fighter who instilled in him the values of liberty, justice, and reform. "In my veins flows not just his blood, but his values - forged in the crucible of our struggle for independence, tempered by the dreams of Gandhiji, the intellect of Ambedkar, and the conviction of Periyar." Mr Haasan launched Makkal Needhi Maiam in 2017 with a focus on clean alternative politics and development. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party garnered around 4 per cenmt of the vote share across Tamil Nadu. In the 2021 assembly polls, he narrowly lost to BJP's Vanathi Srinivasan in Coimbatore South. In 2024, Mr Haasan aligned with the ruling DMK, calling it "the need of the hour." Notably, a key DMK welfare scheme - Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to women - was first proposed by him during his 2021 campaign. "I am honoured to begin with. I know I've a lot to do. Something is expected of me. I hope I live up to those expectations. I'll try my best to be honest, earnest and speak for Tamil Nadu and India," Mr Haasan told NDTV on Thursday.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Kamal Haasan Vows To Be Tamil Nadu's Voice In Delhi After Rajya Sabha Debut: 'Not for Narrow Gain…'
Kamal Haasan, founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam, took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP. Representing Tamil Nadu, he emphasised his commitment to justice, dignity, and ethical governance. Veteran actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan took an oath as a Member of Parliament at Rajya Sabha in Delhi on July 25. Hours later, he took to X (formerly Twitter) and, representing Tamil Nadu, marked the moment with a deeply personal message to the people of India. 'Today, as I rose to take the affirmation as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, I did so with a heart full of humility and a conscience weighed by responsibility," Haasan stated, emphasising that his oath was not a mere formality, but a solemn vow to uphold the spirit of the Constitution with fidelity, courage, and conscience. In an emotionally resonant note, the MNM chief shared that the moment was not his alone, but belonged to the people of Tamil Nadu – a land he credited with nurturing him. He spoke of carrying into Parliament the voices of those who believe deeply in justice, dignity, and self-respect. Haasan also invoked the memory of his father, a freedom fighter, whose values of liberty and resilience continue to guide him. 'I do not arrive in Parliament as a mere critic, but as a committed contributor to the idea of India," he declared, adding, 'Where I must oppose, I will do so with reason. Where I must support, I will do so with conviction. And where I must advise, I will do so constructively – not to score points, but to build consensus." Haasan also wrote, 'It is a philosophy rooted not in hesitation, but in harmony. In times when polarisation threatens to erode dialogue, the centre must hold – not to stand still, but to move forward together." Looking ahead, Haasan acknowledged that India stands at a historic crossroads. With the largest young population in the world, he noted, the nation is blessed with the energy of tomorrow. But he warned against complacency, urging Parliament to listen to the calls for equity, employment, education, and ethical governance. 'With the largest young population in the world, we are blessed with the energy of tomorrow. But we cannot afford to betray that future by being complacent today. The cries for equity, for employment, for education, and for ethical governance must not echo unheard in the corridors of power," he continued. He then concluded his note by extending his gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu and the government. 'I will strive to be the voice of Tamil Nadu in Delhi – clear, compassionate, and committed. I will speak not for one community, but for the common good. Not for narrow gain, but for national growth. To the people who have walked beside me on this journey – I thank you. To those who doubt – I hear you. And to those who hope – I shall not let you down. With reverence for the Constitution, with faith in democracy, and with love for my people, I begin this chapter not as a culmination, but as a beginning," he wrote, undersigning the statement with his new designation, 'Ever in service, Kamal Haasan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, President, Makkal Needhi Maiam." A new Chapter unfolds. — Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 25, 2025 Haasan, who was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in June as part of the DMK-led bloc, delivered his oath in Tamil, receiving enthusiastic desk-thumping from fellow parliamentarians. Following the ceremony, he greeted Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman Harivansh. Haasan's party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), had joined hands with the DMK-led alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As part of the seat-sharing arrangement, MNM was assured a Rajya Sabha seat in exchange for its support. He filed his nomination on June 6 at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, accompanied by Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and key alliance leaders including VCK's Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK's Vaiko, and Tamil Nadu Congress president Selvaperunthagai. The Thug Life actor's entry into the Rajya Sabha marks a major milestone in his political journey, as it is his first official legislative position. In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, a candidate requires a minimum of 34 votes to secure a Rajya Sabha seat. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
