Actor-turned-politician and president of Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan on Wednesday called on Congress president Rahul Gandhi at the latter’s residence in national Capital and discussed the political situation of the country and particularly about Tamil Nadu.
The actor, after his meeting, in a brief interaction with the media, said that it was a formal meeting in which they discussed Tamil Nadu politics. Kamal had, earlier in the day, met the Election Commission to formally register his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam.
Rahul also took stock of the political situation in Andhra Pradesh developing due to denial of Special Status to the state and in this regard several leaders from the southern state met him. Haasan denied that the two discussed the possibility of alliance in Tamil Nadu during the meet. “We did discuss politics but not the way you think,” the actor said after the meeting which he initially described as a courtesy call.
The Congress president shared a photograph of the two leaders shaking hands on social media and wrote that he enjoyed meeting Hassan. According to Rahul Gandhi, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the political situation in Tamil Nadu.
62-year-old Kamal Hassan announced his entry into politics in February this year, adding his name to a long list of superstars who have ventured into politics in Tamil Nadu. Haasan had recently backed Arvind Kejriwal, who staged a nine-day long sit-in at Delhi l-G Anil Baijal’s residence demanding him to direct IAS officers to call off their “strike”.
Early in the day Rahul interacted with 25 Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh. He had one to one meetings with all the leaders and after that he addressed the joint meeting. General Secretary incharge Andhra Pradesh Affairs Oommen Chandy, Andhra AP Congress President Rahuveera Reddy
Briefing the media, Chandy said leaders discussed the problems of the State. “Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh has already started the process to strengthen the Party in the State. The party leaders also gave their suggestions to strengthen the party in the State”.
Congress President told all the party leaders clearly that if UPA came to power, special status will be given to Andhra Pradesh and the file will be signed on the very first day.
“We raised and discussed the important issue of special category status to the State of Andhra Pradesh, which was promised and announced by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to which the current regime at Centre is denying. This is a cheating to the people of Andhra Pradesh by BJP. TDP was part of NDA alliance but nothing happened. Both BJP and TDP cheated the people of Andhra Pradesh,” Chandy said.