After weeks of speculation, actor Kamal Haasan has confirmed that he is actively considering launching his own political party.
Speaking to Subhash K Jha in The Quint, Kamal Haasan said, “Yes, I am thinking on those lines, not out of choice but compulsion. Which existent political party can provide me with a platform or an ideology that will match my reformatory goals in politics?”
This is the first time the actor has confirmed that he considering launching his own party, beating superstar Rajinikanth, who has also hinted at taking the political plunge.
The 62-year-old star’s comments come a day after he denied media reports that he will attend a seminar on fascism organised by a CPI(M) think-tank in Kozhikode on Saturday. While Kamal Haasan had tweeted to say that he was not invited to the meeting and that he is busy with the filming of his reality show Bigg Boss on Saturdays, the seminar organiser told TNM that the star chose to back out of the event as he did not want a controversy.
Denying that he was joining any existing political party, Kamal distanced himself from media reports that he was affiliated with any party. “A political party is about an ideology. And I don’t think my goals in politics can match the ideology of any political party,” he said.
His statement follows media reports that the actor had a “penchant” for communism following his recent meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. While Haasan had called his September 1 meeting with Pinarayi at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram a "learning experience" he had also made clear to reporters his political affiliation, noting, "I have been in films for 40 years. I have many colours, but my colour is not saffron."
Calling the ouster of AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala from the post as a “solid step forward”, the actor said he felt encouraged that the politics of Tamil Nadu can change. He added that he wanted to bring about that change, however slow it may be.
Kamal Haasan also goes on to hold the electorate responsible for the state of politics in India. He argued, “Don’t vote me in and then wait for five years to vote me out. Sack me immediately if I don’t deliver. This is the only way change in the politics of the country can come about.”
While admitting that he is an opportunist, the star pointed out that this is the right time to make a political entry. With DMK chief M Karunanidhi out of active politics and Jayalalithaa’s passing away, Tamil Nadu has been staring at a political vacuum.
Kamal Haasan has in the recent weeks been a vocal critic of the Tamil Nadu government, hitting out at corruption and the state of governance.