Acclaimed actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan officially stepped into the national legislative arena on Friday, taking oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. The 69-year-old politician and film icon delivered his oath in Tamil, triggering resounding applause and desk thumps from fellow members across party lines.
Clad in a white kurta-pyjama, Haasan walked into Parliament House early in the day, where he was greeted by senior members of the House. Following the oath, the MNM leader told the media, “I am very proud and honored,” reaffirming his commitment to uphold constitutional values in his new role as a legislator.
“It’s not just an individual moment but a cultural moment—taking oath in Tamil in the nation’s highest deliberative body,” he remarked briefly after the ceremony.
From Silver Screen to Rajya Sabha
Haasan’s entry into Parliament is considered a significant turning point in his political journey that began in 2018, when he launched Makkal Needhi Maiam, a party aimed at bringing transparency, development, and accountability to Tamil Nadu politics.
Despite his narrow defeat in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Coimbatore South, he continued to be visible and participate in political discourse. With the backing of the DMK-led INDIA bloc, he was admitted to the Rajya Sabha, solidifying his position in national politics.
Supported by the Alliance, elected without opposition
The decision by MNM to support the DMK-led INDIA alliance rather than run in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections allowed Haasan to join the Rajya Sabha. The alliance gave MNM one Rajya Sabha seat as a gesture of appreciation and as a tactic.
Kamal Haasan filed his nomination on June 6, 2025, in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, DMK youth wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, and other INDIA bloc leaders, including Vaiko and Thol. Thirumavalavan. He was elected unopposed on June 12, along with five other candidates from Tamil Nadu. The swearing-in on July 25 marked the formal beginning of his six-year term in the Upper House.
In addition to being symbolic, Haasan’s taking the oath in Tamil, India’s oldest classical language, was a reaffirmation of his identity as a cultural nationalist with roots in Tamil ethos. It resonated strongly with members in the House, earning bipartisan applause.
This moment echoed Haasan’s previous stances for regional representation, language inclusion, and decentralized governance—ideas he expects to further articulate in Parliament.
What Lies Ahead for Kamal Haasan in Parliament?
Kamal Haasan, a full-fledged legislator, is expected to raise issues pertaining to:
-
Federalism and state rights
-
Urban development and decentralised governance
-
Science, environment, and digital policy
-
Cinema, media regulation, and cultural preservation
In addition, he has years of experience as an artist and activist and has previously voiced concerns about corruption, environmental degradation, and youth unemployment—all of which he is certain to highlight in the sessions to follow.
