Kamal Haasan Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu Alongside Five Others

In a major development in Tamil Nadu politics, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. This marks a significant milestone in his political career, as he takes on a national legislative role for the first time.

Alongside Kamal Haasan, five other candidates were elected unopposed to the Upper House. Election certificates were formally distributed at the Chennai Secretariat on Thursday by Returning Officer Subramani. The event was attended by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and other senior leaders.

List of Elected Members

The six individuals elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu include:

• Kamal Haasan (backed by DMK-led alliance)

• Poet Salma (A Rokkaiah Malik) – DMK

• S R Sivalingam – DMK

• P Wilson – DMK (re-elected for a second term)

• IS Inbadurai – AIADMK

• Dhanapal – AIADMK

• Political Significance for Kamal Haasan

  Kamal Haasan's entry into the Rajya Sabha is the result of a strategic alliance with the DMK-led INDIA bloc. As part of their pre-election understanding, the ruling alliance had promised a Rajya Sabha seat to Haasan in return for Makkal Needhi Maiam's support during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. MNM had not contested the elections but backed the alliance fully.

  With this development, Kamal Haasan gains a national platform to amplify his political ideology and play a more active role in shaping public discourse from Parliament.

• Vote Strength and Electoral Backing

  In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, a candidate requires at least 34 votes to secure a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA bloc holds a dominant position with 158 MLAs, broken down as follows:

  • DMK – 133

  • Congress – 17

  • VCK – 4

  • CPI – 2

  • CPI(M) – 2

This ensured a comfortable victory for the alliance's four candidates.

Nomination and Support

Kamal Haasan filed his nomination on June 6 at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. He was accompanied by Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, and alliance partners including VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK's Vaiko, and Tamil Nadu Congress president Selvaperunthagai.

MNM’s Electoral Role

Though MNM did not contest in the 2024 general elections, it played a crucial support role for the DMK-led alliance. In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, MNM secured a vote share of 2.62 percent. By extending unconditional support in 2024, MNM cemented its relevance in state politics and secured representation in the national legislature.

Conclusion

Kamal Haasan’s election to the Rajya Sabha marks a new chapter in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. His presence in the Upper House reflects the growing importance of alliances in Indian politics and underscores the evolving role of regional leaders on the national stage.