Kamal Haasan keeps up suspense on electoral debut

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Wednesday kept up the suspense on whether he will enter the fray in the Lok Sabha elections by announcing candidates only for 21 constituencies, including Puducherry. He said the nominees for remaining 19 constituencies of his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam, will be announced on Sunday.

“There are some important names in the second list,” Kamal Haasan said, setting off intense speculation on which constituency he would choose to test his electoral water. “You will know on Sunday,” the actor replied when asked whether he will find a place in the second list of candidates.

The first list did not announce candidates for South Chennai and Ramanathapuram – one of which Kamal Haasan is expected to choose for his political debut. Kamal Haasan’s birthplace, Paramakudi, falls in Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

The actor had in February said he would contest the Lok Sabha polls, but has been giving mixed signals of late. “Yes. I wish to contest the elections, but my partymen need to tell me that. I need to take their advice,” Kamal Haasan said in response to a question.

In the first list, film producer Kameela Nasser and retired IPS office A G Mourya are some of the prominent personalities who have been nominated by the Makkal Needhi Maiam.

While Mourya will contest from North Chennai, Kameela will test electoral waters from Central Chennai -- both will face DMK candidates.

To a question on the demands by DMK and AIADMK that convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case should be released, Kamal Haasan said they should be let free on the grounds of compassion.

He also dubbed the promises made by the parties in their manifesto as old. On children of leaders contesting the Lok Sabha polls, he said: “It used to be the land of rising sun once upon a time. Now it is the land of rising son.”