Kamal Haasan Makes Parliament Debut, Takes Oath in Tamil

New Delhi:

Kamal Haasan officially entered national politics on Friday when he took the Rajya Sabha parliamentary oath. Haasan administered the oath in Tamil, emphasising his cultural identity, to raucous cheers and pounding desks from fellow lawmakers. His dedication to representing Tamil Nadu in the Upper House and his regional roots were symbolised by the move.

With the support of the DMK-led alliance, Haasan, the founder of the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party, was elected in June without facing any opposition. He was given the option of running for a Lok Sabha seat or accepting the Rajya Sabha nomination, and he chose the latter, signaling a calculated shift to political participation at the national level.

Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, Haasan addressed the media, stating in Tamil: “I am going to register my name. I will do my duty as an Indian.” He described the occasion as a matter of honour and expressed readiness to serve constituents with honesty and dedication.

At 69 years old, Haasan’s entry into Parliament underscores a significant milestone, not just for his personal political journey but also for the MNM. He launched the party in 2018 as a non-Dravidian alternative in Tamil Nadu politics but later aligned with the DMK-led bloc, describing the alliance as driven by “national interest rather than personal gain”.

Haasan, a veteran of Tamils cinema has stood in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in Coimbatore South, losing to a narrow margin. His move to the national legislature is an indication of his desire to impact on the national level, especially on matters that regard the youth, the arts, and the development.

His inauguration was realised in a group of new MPs representing Tamil Nadu, among whom were the representatives of DMK and AIADMK. As DMK-led coalition had an overwhelming majority in the state assembly, Haasan, five others were unopposed as they won seats in the Rajya Sabha on 12 June.

The entry of Haasan into the Upper House brings in a big name presence into the scene with a mix of both filmi star along with a political background. According to watchers, the oath-taking in Tamil conveys a communication of cultural ownership and language pride, which goes in line with his status as a southern state-man.

According to the senior journalists and analysts, Haasan will focus his attention on the parliamentary deliberations on cultural policies, regional development, arts, and technology. His arrival also begs the question of how MNM will fit into Tamil Nadu's changing political scene, especially in the run-up to the state assembly elections in 2026.

As the Monsoon Session proceeds, one will watch how Haasan will exploit his infamy to write or negotiate legislations or alliances in the areas of youth empowerment, the creative industries, and regional concerns. His taking of the oath in Tamil is currently regarded as a turning point in his political career and a sign of the larger movement in India's parliament toward more diverse representation.