Tamil actor Kamal Haasan yesterday launched his political party, which he said will seek to provide corruption-free governance, stop playing games on the basis of religion and castes and adopt a centrist approach without swaying left or right too much.
He also declared that he will not indulge in the politics of “freebies”, a practice the Dravidian parties have made famous in Tamil Nadu.
The 63-year-old actor took the political plunge with a visit to the home of late president A P J Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram on a hectic day passing by his school and his village in Ramanathapuram before winding up the day with a public meeting in Madurai unveiling the party flag and the name Makkal Needhi Maiam (People Justice Centre).
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who addressed the public meeting where the party was launched, hailed Haasan as the new alternative to Tamil Nadu to rout the “corrupt” All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – a point the actor acknowledged in his speech.
In a video message, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan extended his greetings to Haasan, hoping that his entry into politics will enrich the political life of Tamil Nadu and that he will uphold the ideals of secularism, democracy and pluralism.
In a 45-minute speech, Haasan said Makkal Needhi Maiam will be the army for Tamilians’ war for justice. “Kejriwal has started my campaign today itself. As a courtesy I wanted to avoid saying certain things but Kejriwal has launched my political campaign because he knows the time is short for me.”
Replying to questions from his fans, Haasan said he would serve the people of Tamil Nadu till his last and would like to leave a party for the next three or four generations. “There will be no permanent chief ministers if my party is voted to power,” he said.
“Quality education, elimination of corruption, supply of regular electricity and removal of unemployment will be among the priorities. If you eliminate corruption all this can be done.”
He refused to answer questions about criticism by DMK leader M K Stalin that paper flowers do not have any fragrance or Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tamilisai Soundararajan’s description of him as a bonsai tree and AIADMK minister D Jayakumar calling him a genetically modified seed that will not grow.
“Should I answer these critics or look at what we have to do,” he said, adding angrily that this sort of remarks against him only shows how the opponents are angry about his entry.
The actor took a dig at the Tamil Nadu government, saying his administration would not give “quarter” (liquor) to men and scooter to women.
In Tamil Nadu, the liquor sale is done by the state government. The government would launch its subsidised scooter scheme on Saturday.