Kamal Haasan, five others elected unopposed to RS from Tamil Nadu
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Actor and politician Kamal Haasan, along with five others, was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu on Thursday, Deccan Herald reported.
Four candidates were backed by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): MP P Wilson, poet Rajathi Salma, SR Sivalingam, and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan.
The other two candidates, IS Indaburai and M Dhanapal, were backed by the main Opposition party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Scroll.in reported.
Their term in the Upper House will start in July and run until July 2031.
Returning officer B Subramaniyam stated that while 13 nominations were submitted, only six were found valid.
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram represents the Congress in the Upper House and GK Vasan the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar).
As reported by The Hindu, Subramaniyam stated that since the number of valid nominations equalled the number of available seats, all six candidates were declared elected unopposed.
This election marks the debut of Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam in the Rajya Sabha. Although the DMK continues to hold 10 seats, the AIADMK has increased its tally by one.
According to Deccan Herald, Haasan was assured a Rajya Sabha seat as part of an agreement when his party joined the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in March 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Tamil Nadu is represented by 18 members in the Rajya Sabha. Besides the DMK and AIADMK, the Congress and Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) each hold one seat, with former Union Minister P Chidambaram representing the Congress and GK Vasan representing the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar).