Kamal's party allotted Battery Torch symbol

Makkal Needhi Maiam, the political party led by actor Kamal Haasan, was on Sunday allotted the “Battery Torch” symbol for the Lok Sabha elections due in May.

Terming the “Battery Torch” as the apt symbol for his party which has promised to herald change in Tamil Nadu politics, Kamal Haasan also announced that he will enter the fray in the general elections but will name the constituency in due course.

“MNM thanks the Election Commission for granting us the "Battery Torch" symbol for the forthcoming elections. So appropriate. @maiamofficial will endeavour to be the “Torch-Bearer” for a new era in TN and Indian politics,” Kamal Haasan wrote on Twitter.

Speaking to reporters later, the actor also hoped that his long-time friend in tinsel town and wannabe politician, Rajinikanth, would extend his support to MNM in the Lok Sabha polls.

“It is better for both if the support is extended without asking. Extending support on their own is good,” Kamal Haasan said when asked whether he would enlist Rajinikanth’s support for the ensuing elections.

Not just Lok Sabha polls, the MNM would also contest by-elections to 21 assembly constituencies scheduled to be held along with Lok Sabha polls. MNM was launched in February 2018 and the party has announced it will contest all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu on its own.

Kamal Haasan also said the MNM’s alliance was with the people and that he was not scared of facing the elections alone. “Our alliance is very strong because it is with the people directly. I will definitely contest Lok Sabha polls. I will let you know the constituency,” Kamal Haasan said.

Responding to Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan that Kamal Haasan can now “search his party” through “Battery Torch”, the actor said the symbol can be put to use to “search the BJP which is well behind NOTA” in Tamil Nadu.