Kamal Haasan Set to Enter Rajya Sabha Backed by DMK Amid Language Row
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan is poised to enter the Rajya Sabha with the backing of Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the party confirmed on Tuesday. Haasan’s nomination comes as part of a pre-Lok Sabha poll alliance agreement between his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), and the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).
The DMK, which is expected to win four of the six Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant in Tamil Nadu in June and July, has officially decided to nominate Haasan for one of the seats.
DMK leaders said the move was in line with the seat-sharing deal struck in March 2024 when MNM formally joined the SPA ahead of the general elections.
The announcement, however, comes amid political tremors sparked by Haasan’s recent remarks on the Kannada language during a promotional event for his upcoming film Thug Life. Haasan claimed that “Kannada was born out of Tamil”, triggering widespread criticism in Karnataka.
The statement, made in the presence of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar at a Chennai event, went viral and sparked sharp reactions from Kannada activists and political leaders. Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra strongly condemned the remarks, calling them “culturally insensitive and historically inaccurate.”
Despite the controversy, DMK sources said the party stands by its commitment to Haasan, citing his contributions to Tamil cinema and his increasing political engagement.
In his speech at the Thug Life launch, Haasan began with “Uyire Urave Tamizhe” — which translates to “my life and my family is Tamil language” — before linking Kannada’s linguistic roots to Tamil. Addressing Shivarajkumar, he said, “Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil, so you too are included.”
Political observers also noted that this nomination signals a possible long-term alliance between the DMK and MNM, potentially paving the way for greater collaboration in state politics.
With six seats up for grabs, the DMK alliance is poised to retain four, while the opposition AIADMK and its ally PMK are likely to hold the remaining two.