Kamal Haasan releases list of 'empowered committee members' to lead Makkal Needhi Maiam party

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has released the list of members who will comprise the empowered committee that will shape and execute the policies of his newly-launched political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam. The list includes agriculturist-advocate Arunachalam A, writer-director C Rajashekaran, professor-writer-speaker KU Gnanasambandhan, actress-producer-director Sripriya Rajkumar, among others.

In an accompanying note, he also thanked the participants and authorities, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Delhi Somnath Bharti for participating in the launch of the party.

Amid much anticipation, Haasan had on Wednesday launched his political party Makkal Needhi Maiam, unfurling the party flag moments before announcing the name, which roughly translates to 'Centre for People's Justice'. "I am not your leader, I am your tool... this gathering is full of leaders," he had said. Kejriwal and Bharti were present at the event.

File image of Kamal Haasan. News18

The party flag was unveiled just before Haasan announced the name of his party, pausing for dramatic effect, as the large crowd roared its approval. Besides Kejriwal and Bharti, farmer leader PR Pandian was also on the dais for the launch.

"This is a party made for you, for the people," Haasan said to thunderous applause. Saying that it is not a single-day event, he added, "This is going to become a way of life for us, let us remember that."

He asked his followers to realise that they have a big responsibility and they had to be pioneers.

Explaining the vision of his party, Haasan had said this is a new era for Tamil Nadu politics. "Unemployed, educated youngsters can become a thing of the past. We are adopting eight villages in the state and trying to do welfare measures... this is a combined effort."

With inputs from agencies