Kamal Haasan

Since announcing his party on February 21 last year, Kamal Haasan has been constantly on the move, meeting people across Tamil Nadu, enrolling members and giving structure to Makkal Needhi Maiam .

A year down the road, the actor-politician tells V Mayilvaganan that his party is prepared to contest in the coming general elections alone, rather than align with the DMK, in all the 40 constituencies in the state and Puducherry. Excerpts:

It has been almost a year since your party was launched. How has the journey been?

Others think it’s tedious. But I don’t think so. I am enjoying every part of the journey. Cinema is more difficult than this. We don’t get this much love in cinema. I am relishing the love of people now. This is a true relationship.

You would have set interim goals. Have you achieved them?

We have far exceeded those goals. We were told the party symbol, flag and name Makkal Needhi Maiam will take five years to reach rural areas. We have broken that. We are familiar in each and every village.

Familiarization yes, but in terms of presence how far have you gone?

Familiarization means our presence is there. It was a move to reach out to the masses through grama sabhas, which paved the way for our travel into villages. Other parties have started imitating us.

What were the challenges?

There were impediments created by others. They would not give us permission for putting up stages. I made my vehicle my stage. We made impediments our opportunities. That has paid off. Large number of people throng wherever I go. I have met lakhs and lakhs of people in one year.

Have you started drawing crowds as a politician?

That’s what I have realized. I have been meeting people since my childhood. I see a sea change in their approach towards me. Earlier they were seeing me through my movie characters. Now they see the person, the personality.

Do they see a leader in you?

I decided to take the political plunge only because some people saw me as a leader. There were clear indications.

Will MNM contest in an alliance or alone?

We can contest alone. We have that confidence.

But will you contest alone?

It is a possibility. But we should also consider on why we should go for that possibility. If at all our strength can be multiplied, if there is a sure chance of success, then there should be a right alliance. At the same time, I cannot carry the burden of others. There shouldn’t be any stain on us because of an alliance.

Are you talking to the Congress?

See, we are firm on our ideologies.

You have said you will not ally with either the DMK or the AIADMK.

Absolutely.

If the Congress presents an option to the MNM to join the DMK-led alliance, will you take it up?

This is an opportunity to change my state. Tamil Nadu is our focus. I don’t want to change that focus for the sake of seat-sharing.

Will you contest alone than align with the DMK?

We would rather contest alone. We are very clear on it. No change in this stand. We don’t want to lie, neither are we scared to say sorry.

Earlier, you said you will contest and then you seemed to rethink. Have you decided now?

I meant we will contest in the context of MNM. It was not about me. There are options available. My prerogative would be the age group (of candidates) should be 25 to 40. They should be educated. I want a group of people who can take this forward. There is no point in having a 63-year-old leader with 70-year-olds around.

So MNM will be fielding candidates in all the 40 seats?

Yes, that’s what we are working on.

How many seats do you aim to win?

We will shake the confidence of every party here. We are permeating deep. This is not a wish list, it’s our action list.

The AIADMK government is facing corruption charges. The DMK claims its president M K Stalin has a cleaner image.

I disagree [on Stalin]. I have nothing personal against these people. When we meet someone in person we are going to greet each other.

Your take on the Kolkata episode?

You cannot strong arm. See what is happening. The Centre is now embarrassed.

Are the BJP and Modi such a threat. Almost all regional parties are ganging up against?

Mr Modi is a personality. We are not attacking personalities. The party is what we have to look at. You defeat Modi and then what?

India must have a larger vision.

There is talk that a third front might emerge post elections. There are leaders backing the third front than a Congress-led government.

If you are going to keep pulling at the handle of the chair, no purpose will be served.

Do you see Rahul as PM?

Is it one man who runs the nation? If this is the man of the moment, India will use him. Ultimately all are tools to make a better India, including myself. I cannot play favouritism in this.

So, you are open to anyone becoming the PM?

Any sensible person. We cannot look silly on the international platform. The time has come. We are 1.2 billion. The next satyagraha is to skill India.

How successful are grama sabhas?

I can’t say that it’s successful really. Stalin following us is a success for MNM. But for grama sabhas to succeed, we will have to keep pushing and empower people.

In a recent interview you said MNM is open to actor Vijay .

They asked me specifically about Vijay, so I said so. Why Vijay, we are open to anyone. He has a following and he wants to do something for country, so if he wants to come... but we cannot force him.

AIADMK-BJP deal is in the making.

It will be favourable for us. As you said it is a deal. What we are looking for is a better Tamil Nadu.

