CHENNAI:
Veteran Tamil actor Kamal Haasan will kick off his state-wide tour on Wednesday with the launch of his political party and its “guiding principles” in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. In the first phase of his tour, Haasan will visit his hometown, Ramanathapuram, as well as Madurai, Dindigul and Sivagangai districts. The 63-year-old actor had previously said his purpose was to challenge the status quo that “has been plaguing the politics of Tamil Nadu”.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is likely to attend Haasan’s Madurai rally. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar are also reportedly invited although their participation has not been confirmed.
While announcing his tour earlier this year, Haasan had said he intended to “embark on a journey across the state to truly understand as to what the needs of my people are, what is affecting them, what their aspirations are. This momentous journey of meeting people across Tamil Nadu is neither an act of rebellion nor is it a gathering for glamour.”
Haasan on Sunday visited fellow actor and contemporary Rajinikanth — who has announced he will venture into politics and contest the next state Assembly elections — at the latter’s residence on Sunday. In a 15-minute long “courtesy” meeting, Haasan reportedly invited Rajinikanth to attend his public meeting in Madurai.
“I have been meeting people whom I like before I start this journey,” he said, adding that it was “ultimately (Rajini’s) decision to come or not.”
On Tuesday, he said, “I am entering politics only because the ruling AIADMK party is bad, that is why I am not meeting any of them,” he said.
