lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 10, 2019 14:07 IST

The Election Commission has allocated the ‘battery torch’ symbol to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan.

The MNM had reportedly approached the EC in mid-February to get a party symbol for contesting in 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry.

Thanking the EC for allocating the battery torch symbol, the 64-year-old actor said MNM would strive to be a torchbearer in politics.

MNM thanks the Election commision 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 (@ikamalhaasan) March 10, 2019

“MNM thanks the Election commission for granting us the ‘Battery Torch’ symbol for the forthcoming elections. So appropriate. MNM will endeavour to be the “Torch-Bearer” for a new era in TN and Indian politics,” Haasan said in a tweet.

Kamal Haasan had launched his political outfit in Madurai in February 2018 and met various leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

A proposed alliance with Congress did not work out as Haasan wanted the grand old party to leave its old ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

He then announced that MNM would contest all the 39 TN seats and the one in Puducherry alone, but is yet to announce candidates. The actor has been receiving applications for contesting the polls from his party workers and outsiders.

Fellow actor Rajinikanth who had announced about his political entry in December 2017, is yet to float his political outfit. However, the actor has converted his fans club as Rajini Makkal Mandram(RMM), which is expected to be made into a party.