Kamal Haasan to contest in assembly polls

Kamal Haasan to contest in assembly polls; meets biz leaders, advocates

With New Players Entering The Field, Ruling Party Puts House In Order

Keeps Mum On Constituency Or Alliances

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai: 15.12.2020

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan on Monday said he will contest in the upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu. “But it will not be appropriate now to divulge the constituency from where I will contest,” he said.

Interacting with reporters in Madurai before proceeding to campaign in Theni, Kamal, when asked if he saw Rajinikanth as his opponent in politics, said they were not competitors even in the film industry, but an impression had been created as if they were rivals. “We both had clear separate paths which we pursued,” he said. Asked if there was any chance team up with Rajinikanth, Kamal said the right time had to come for it. “We will have to wait till December 31to reply to that,” he said.

On whether he was in talks with any party to form a third front as proposed by him, Kamal said, “It is party secret. It will not be good to divulge it now. We will announce it soon.” When asked why the Tamil Nadu government had restricted his campaign, Kamal said the state government could be afraid that MNM would win the support of people. He said the party’s election manifesto would give importance to a corruption-free government in the state. “Nothing could be changed by merely punishing people in the lower rung of the government. Things have to start from the higher level,” he said. Asked if he would be against corporates, Kamal said it would be foolish to say that there should not be any big corporates. “Big businesses have to take place in order to build big cities. Micro and small industries should also equally flourish,” he said. On Monday afternoon, Kamal left for Theni. He opened a party office at Usilampatti where a large number of people had gathered to greet him. Talking to women party cadres in Theni, Kamal said that there would be a minimum of 20 women achievers in his cabinet. “MNM is the only party where women can function freely,” he said. “Deputy chief minister O Pannerselvam said women can rule 2.5 years out of five years, but why didn't he come forward to hand over key party posts to women in the AIADMK?” he asked.

Earlier in Madurai, the actor held meetings with businessmen and advocates in a private hotel on his second day in Madurai.

BJP forms panel for poll manifesto

Chennai: President of BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit L Murugan constituted a10-member election manifesto preparation committee. Former national secretary H Raja, vice presidents V P Duraisamy and K Annamalai and general secretaries Prof Ganagasapathy, Rama Srinivasan, national general council member Sasikala Pushpa were among them. TNN

MNM is the only party where women can function freely. Deputy chief minister OPS said that women can rule 2.5 years out of five years, but why didn't he come forward to hand over key party posts to women in the AIADMK

Kamal Haasan | MNM LEADER