The meeting between actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan and the Congress top leadership is likely to throw up a new alliance in Southern Indian politics. While the actor needs the backing of a major political party to get identified as a politician of standing in the country, Congress too wants to keep its option open in politically-significant Southern States like Tamil Nadu with the fast changing scenario for 2019 general elections.
A senior Congress leader put the meeting of Haasan with Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as significant for both sides. Haasan met Rahul on Wednesday and called on Sonia on Thursday. Haasan is president of Makkal Needi Maiam (MNM), which he founded recently.
Congress and DMK have been UPA partners and the relation withstood the onslaught faced by the latter during the multi crore 2G scam. Haasan in recent months himself has been in regular touch through meetings with DMK leadership.
Though both sides — Congress, Haasan — are tight-lipped on whether the meeting was a precursor to an alliance, speculations are there since the meeting on both the days lasted for over an hour. AICC sources said that Tamil Nadu Congress Committee was clueless about the meeting till Haasan reached the Congress president’s residence.
“Haasan needs political brethren when his newly founded party has just been floated. Certainly he will be the bigger gainer, which is already evident as his meeting with the Congress leadership is making headlines,” said the leader.
According to an AICC Member Secretary, Congress too would gain if its existing UPA partner Dravida Munnetra Kazgham (DMK) tries to play smart. “Options are open. If DMK thrown tantrums for seat-sharing, the Congress can look to smaller parties like that of Haasan,” said the member.
On both occasions (after meeting Rahul and Sonia), Haasan said that it was just a courtesy call and that there is something which cannot be discussed with the media now. He mentioned that his party would take a decision on joining the larger national alliance at an appropriate time.
“I met Sonia Gandhi and we discussed the political situation in general in Tamil Nadu,” Haasan told reporters after the meeting. On whether he would support the Congress in its endeavour to bring opposition parties together on one platform to defeat the BJP in the 2019 lok Sabh polls, Haasan said, “It is too early to decide.”
Haasan had met Rahul and other Opposition leaders in Bengaluru at the swearing-in of HD Kumaraswamy as Karnataka Chief Minister. Before beginning his political journey Haasan had sought blessings of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi early this year and then again the actor called on DMK working President Stalin last month. Haasan’s onscreen rival Rajinikanth who too has set himself into politics too called on DMK leaders indicating that both the megastar too can join hands with a major political party for its political foray.
The ruling AIADMK, and the BJP, sought to make light of Haasan’s meeting with Congress leaders saying they will not be bothered even if he met US President Donald Trump. BJP leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said Haasan had met leaders of a party that had been “rejected by people”.