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Chennai: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan during a campaign in support of Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly constituency, in Chennai, Friday, April 17, 2026 | Photo Credit: R SENTHILKUMAR

It is star power versus star power in Tamil Nadu as actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan took to Chennai roads to campaign for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday. Despite the widespread disappointment among Haasan’s followers that he decided not to contest the polls, people lined up on the streets to hear what their ulaganayagan (universal hero) had to say.

As Haasan’s van rolled into the streets of Chintadripet (part of Chepauk constituency), the speakers blared his party Makkal Needhi Maiam’s (MNM’s) anthem. “Your vote is not just for Tamil Nadu, but for India. Tamil Nadu is now standing strong as a fort fighting for India’s rights, and Udhayanidhi [Stalin] is among those at the forefront,” roared Haasan, in reference to the ongoing battle between TN and the Union government on the delimitation issue.

“When it comes to Tamil Nadu’s sports ecosystem, one only thinks of Udhayanidhi, and it is our responsibility to make him win,” he told supporters. “Making him win is equal to making me and entire Tamil Nadu win,” he added. Haasan launched MNM in 2018 as he looked to capitalise on people’s larger disillusionment against political establishment. In fact, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party’s promo showed the actor breaking a TV set that showed a speech, seemingly, by Stalin. And now, in the 2026 polls, Haasan has surrendered three Assembly seats as part of the DMK-led alliance and decided to support them.

Published on April 17, 2026

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