Actor-politician Kamal Haasan is poised to enter the Rajya Sabha with the support of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). This development comes after Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) formally joined the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) in March 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. As part of the agreement, Haasan campaigned for the DMK alliance candidates across Tamil Nadu. The DMK, in turn, plans to utilize his charisma in the upcoming assembly elections, especially given the rising challenge from actor Vijay's political aspirations.

The Election Commission of India has announced that elections for six Rajya Sabha seats from Tamil Nadu, which are set to fall vacant on July 24th, will be held on June 19th. The terms of the current Rajya Sabha members, including DMK's Shanmugam, Chandrasekaran, Wilson, and Abdullah, PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss, and MDMK's Vaiko, are expiring.

According to sources within the DMK, one of the four seats that the DMK can win will be allocated to Kamal Haasan. The party is currently in the process of finalizing candidates for the remaining three seats. It is expected that lawyer P. Wilson, known for his legal battles on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, and M.M. Abdulla, who is considered close to Udhayanidhi Stalin, will likely receive a second term in the Upper House.

Haasan's entry into the Rajya Sabha marks a significant turn in his political journey. Once a vocal critic of the DMK in the 2019 and 2021 elections, he has gradually aligned himself with the M.K. Stalin-led party after facing successive electoral defeats. This alliance signifies a strategic move by both parties, with the DMK seeking to leverage Haasan's popularity and MNM gaining a foothold in national politics.

MNM leaders have indicated that the party's central governing body and executive committee will meet soon to formally endorse Haasan's candidature. The nomination filing is expected to take place in the first week of June.

With the current strength of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, where the DMK holds a dominant position, the party is expected to win four of the six Rajya Sabha seats. Each seat requires the support of 34 MLAs. The AIADMK is likely to secure the remaining two seats.

Kamal Haasan's political journey began in 2018 with the launch of MNM, advocating for justice and welfare. Despite facing challenges and a narrow defeat in the 2021 Coimbatore South assembly election, he has remained a prominent figure in Tamil Nadu politics.