Politics not business for me, says Kamal at city campaign

CAMPAIGN TRAIL KAMAL HAASAN

Politics not business for me, says Kamal at city campaign

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 04.03.2021 

Seeking to claim the legacy of M G Ramachandran, actor Kamal Haasan on Wednesday began his campaign trail from Alandur, earlier Parangimalai constituency which sent MGR to the assembly first in 1967.

“It was from here that part of MGR’s political journey began. I am happy that my journey also starts from here,” Kamal told amid a sea of supporters at Madanandhapuram near Porur.

Earlier in the day, the MNM chief released the party’s agenda for women and youth welfare and sports development at his party office in Alwarpet, after which he took the metro to reach Alandur.

Outside the Alandur metro station, cadres gathered in numbers to mark the beginning of the campaign trail.

Along the trail along the suburbs, the matinee idolturned-politician kept those gathered engaged with promises of a honest government.

Apart from the cadres, several turned up to catch a glimpse of Kamal Haasan, whom they were used to witnessing in the silver screen.

“I came to see Kamal in person. Though I couldn’t get close to him, I am happy that I was part of a historic event,” said G Pavithra, 46, of Thiruvottiyur, who accompanied an MNM cadre.

Kamal, while addressing the public at several locations, stated that he was delighted to see MNM’s support growing exponentially and wooed women and youth with promises of monetary compensation for household work and employment for youth. “Time for change has come. However dark it gets, torchlight will show the way,” Kamal said.

The campaign trail concluded at Mangollai in Mylapore where Kamal, in a short speech, took a dig at the ruling AIADMK government and the BJP stressing to the audience that neither he nor the future of Tamil Nadu was for sale. “Some are trying to buy votes. I am not a trader, nor is politics a business for me,” Kamal said

CHOOSING THE RIGHT START: MNM chief Kamal Haasan began his campaign trail at Alandur, earlier Parangimalai constituency from where MGR was elected to the assembly first. The campaign drew a sea of people and led to traffic snarls at Kathipara

Kalam’s advisor joins MNM, made V-P

Chennai:

V Ponraj, who was the scientific advisor of late President A P J Abdul Kalam, joined actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Wednesday. After introducing Ponraj at a meeting in Alwarpet, party president Kamal Haasan announced that Ponraj would serve as MNM’s vice-president along with Dr R Mahendran. “I was ready to work with anyone who will make Abdul Kalam’s vision for the country a reality. When the call came from Kamal, I decided to join the party. I am confident of ensuring Kalam’s vision under the able leadership of Kamal Haasan,” Ponraj said. Ponraj said the party he had started — Abdul Kalam Vision India Party — could not even be registered due to hurdles posed by the BJP government. TNN