Haasan to launch party today with Kejriwal in supporting role
CHENNAI: Actor Kamal Haasan is set to launch his political party from Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district on Wednesday with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal likely to be in attendance.
Sources close to Haasan said the Delhi CM, who had called on the film star last September in Chennai, has confirmed his participation for Haasan’s rally at Madurai.
The AAP leader and the Tamil actor have displayed a rare northsouth camaraderie on social and political issues -- and fighting corruption unites them the most.
However, it remains unclear whether Haasan and Kejriwal will work together in Tamil Nadu politics, where AAP has remained a non-starter over the past few years.
On the eve of the launch of Haasan’s political journey from the birthplace of late president APJ Abdul Kalam, a discordant note was struck by the Hindu Munnani, a pro-hindu religious organisation. The Munnani on Tuesday questioned the choice of the venue -- the former president’s school -- for the launch of the superstar’s political party on Wednesday.
The outfit has opposed Haasan’s idea of starting his political journey from Ramanathapuram saying Kalam was a scholarly person above petty politics. The state BJP too advised Haasan that it may not be a good idea to politicise the ‘People’s President’ by using his birthplace or his alma mater to launch his new party.
BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy said about three weeks ago the BJP had questioned why Haasan should go to Ramnathapuram. “Kamal Haasan should not try to do politics in the name of Abdul Kalam and once he does that every political party will do it, turning his birthplace into a hub of political tourism and thus belittle his persona,” Tirupathy said.
Regardless, the filmstar is all set for political plunge from Ramanathapuram on Wednesday morning. Haasan has already done the rounds of senior leaders and well-wishers from different political parties, including the Left. He has also sought the blessings of DMDK leader and film star Captain Vijayakanth, also known as Karuppu MGR.