Kamal Haasan Optimistic About Forming Next Government In Tamil Nadu

Mumbai: He may have just entered the hurly burly of politics, but actor-politician Kamal Haasan is already talking about the possibility of forming the next government in Tamil Nadu.

The 63-year-old film star today said he will try to form the next government in the southern state where politics is dominated largely by two regional parties - the AIADMK and the DMK -- and emerge as the "third alternative". Haasan recently launched his political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (People's Justice Centre) in Tamil Nadu, where the next Assembly elections are due in 2021. Asked what will be his message to the ruling AIADMK and the main opposition DMK, he shot back, saying, "Mend your ways or we will step in." He was speaking at a session on 'Point of View - Turmoil Nadu: Who will fix it' at the India Today Conclave here.

When asked specifically if he is trying to say that his party will form the government after the next elections, the actor-politician said, "Yes, we will try." "It is not my voice alone that is speaking, the strength comes from my people. I am looking for the welfare of the people with their participation, that is a vision," he said. Haasan asserted he will not compromise on his ideals at any cost and maintained his decision to join politics was not spontaneous but culmination of a well thought-out process. "Losing an election is not that daunting as losing your ideals. Losing an election is not a big thing. I have lost many elections thinking I have voted for the right party. But they did not make it, the wrong man made it to the top, I felt I have lost. But that will go on," he said.

Haasan considers himself a social service leader and not an organiser and says he has been functioning below the radar for about 37 years.

PTI