<p>In an anti-climax, actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday announced he will neither contest April 18 Lok Sabha polls nor the by-polls to 18 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The announcement comes as a major disappointment for Kamal Haasan’s fans and supporters who were expecting him to contest the Lok Sabha polls and lead his pack from the front.<br /> <br />Kamal Haasan made the announcement at a mega rally organised by the Makkal Needhi Maiam in Coimbatore, where he also released the second list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled on April 18. Party vice-president Dr R Mahendran will test his electoral fortunes from Coimbatore, while writer-poet Snehan will take on Congress’ Karti Chidambaram and BJP nominee H Raja in Sivaganga.<br /> <br />“I decided to pull the chariot rather being in it. Many party cadres wanted me to contest this election, but I decided not to contest. All candidates are my faces. I will lead from the front,” Kamal Haasan told the rally. The actor-politician was expected to contest from South Chennai or Ramanathapuram, his native district.<br /> <br />The party will contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Puducherry, and by-polls to 18 assembly constituencies.<br /> <br />Releasing MNM’s manifesto for the polls, Kamal Haasan promised to generate 50 lakh jobs, 100 per cent profit for farmers for their agricultural produce, wipe out poverty from Tamil Nadu and reform the existing Lok Ayukta Act and appoint a credible Lok Ayukta.<br /> <br />He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mein Bhi Chowkidar’ slogan by calling the latter as ‘chowkidar’ of the rich. “He is the chowkidar of the rich not letting the poor enter,” he said.<br /> </p>
<p>In an anti-climax, actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday announced he will neither contest April 18 Lok Sabha polls nor the by-polls to 18 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The announcement comes as a major disappointment for Kamal Haasan’s fans and supporters who were expecting him to contest the Lok Sabha polls and lead his pack from the front.<br /> <br />Kamal Haasan made the announcement at a mega rally organised by the Makkal Needhi Maiam in Coimbatore, where he also released the second list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections scheduled on April 18. Party vice-president Dr R Mahendran will test his electoral fortunes from Coimbatore, while writer-poet Snehan will take on Congress’ Karti Chidambaram and BJP nominee H Raja in Sivaganga.<br /> <br />“I decided to pull the chariot rather being in it. Many party cadres wanted me to contest this election, but I decided not to contest. All candidates are my faces. I will lead from the front,” Kamal Haasan told the rally. The actor-politician was expected to contest from South Chennai or Ramanathapuram, his native district.<br /> <br />The party will contest all 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Puducherry, and by-polls to 18 assembly constituencies.<br /> <br />Releasing MNM’s manifesto for the polls, Kamal Haasan promised to generate 50 lakh jobs, 100 per cent profit for farmers for their agricultural produce, wipe out poverty from Tamil Nadu and reform the existing Lok Ayukta Act and appoint a credible Lok Ayukta.<br /> <br />He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mein Bhi Chowkidar’ slogan by calling the latter as ‘chowkidar’ of the rich. “He is the chowkidar of the rich not letting the poor enter,” he said.<br /> </p>
