Live updates: Kamal Haasan to launch political party today, begins journey from ex-Prez Kalam's home

Posters have sprung up across Tamil Nadu with Kamal Haasan and former president A P J Abdul  Kalam in one frame. Haasan and Kalam born in same Ramanathapuram district. Kamal, who claims to be Kalam devotee, earlier visited his house in the coastal village.   

Fishing is one of the important professions and all that is needed should be done to sustain it, Kamal Haasan said during a meeting the with the fishermen in Rameswaram.

"Fishermen too should understand the need to respect international laws. I hope you people understand what I am saying," Kamal said during the meeting in a reference to the firing on fishermen by Sri Lankan navy.

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has invited people to 'create a new era' even as he gears up to launch his political party on Wednesday in Madurai. 

Haasan began his political journey from the house of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Hours before launching his political party, he visited the residence of Kalam and interacted with his family members.

Haasan was warmly received by the family members of the former President. The actor slightly tweaked his schedule for the day, cancelling his visit to a school, after the local administration reportedly denied him permission to visit it.

The actor will take out a rally from the house of Kalam at Rameswaram, culminating in Madurai where he will address a rally to announce the party’s name and launch its flag. According to sources close to the actor Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to attend the rally; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar too have been invited, however, they could send video messages as they could not reach Madurai.

People in Tamil Nadu are waiting for to know who are the other party key members and whether the actor will announce their names at the meeting in Madurai today. While some source said that the actor will announce the list of office bearers including party’s district committees at the rally in Madurai, other reports suggested that the actor likely to follow the path of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who was the single power centre in the party she ran until her death and unlikely project anyone.  

“There are intellectuals, activists and anti-corruption groups guiding and advising him, but he is unlikely to project a second leader next to him in the initial stages,” reports said quoting a source. The party will be in the line of   Aam Aadmi Party and similar anti-corruption movements in Tamil Nadu. The party's name may not include words such as ‘Dravida’ or ‘Kazhagam’. Some of the final designs selected for the flag are simple ones in two or three colours.”

Hassan is expected to Ramanathapuram, his hometown, where he will address a gathering that is expected to be of 2,000 or more people

He will meet people at two more places on the way to Madurai, in Paramakudi and Manamadurai. Organisers expect a few hundred people in both places and he may also deliver speeches.

On the eve of the party launch, DMK working president M K Stalin ridiculed the actor’s political venture. Taking a veiled dig once again at top actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for their political ambitions, DMK Working President M K Stalin likened them to 'glamorous paper flowers' which do not spread fragrance.

"Owing to seasonal changes some flowers may suddenly bloom and later wither. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu's political arena too glamorous paper flowers may bloom," he said in an apparent reference to top actors Rajinikanth and Haasan's political entry.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, in a letter to party cadres said though "such flowers may bloom, they do not spread fragrance," which is seen as an indication that the duo could not succeed and shine in politics though they could enter the fray.

Kamal Haasan was quick to retort to Stalin's jibe, telling reporters at Madurai that "I am not a flower, I am a seed, sow me, I will grow."

Kamal Haasan, who has been meeting senior politicians in the last one week, including DMK’s M Karunanidhi and CPI’s R Nallakannu, besides Rajinikanth, has also visited Vijayakanth, the film-star who turned politician in 2005. 

Asked why he did not meet any leaders of the ruling AIADMK, Kamal Haasan said he does not like this government. “I don’t want to meet them.”

Haasan began his political journey from the house of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Hours before launching his political party, he visited the residence of Kalam and interacted with his family members. The actor later lauded the simplicity of Kalam's relatives and in a tweet said ''Glad to start my journey from a great mans' simple abode.  

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has invited people to 'create a new era' even as he gears up to launch his political party on Wednesday in Madurai. 

Haasan began his political journey from the house of former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Hours before launching his political party, he visited the residence of Kalam and interacted with his family members.

Haasan was warmly received by the family members of the former President. The actor slightly tweaked his schedule for the day, cancelling his visit to a school, after the local administration reportedly denied him permission to visit it.

The actor will take out a rally from the house of Kalam at Rameswaram, culminating in Madurai where he will address a rally to announce the party’s name and launch its flag. According to sources close to the actor Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to attend the rally; Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar too have been invited, however, they could send video messages as they could not reach Madurai.

People in Tamil Nadu are waiting for to know who are the other party key members and whether the actor will announce their names at the meeting in Madurai today. While some source said that the actor will announce the list of office bearers including party’s district committees at the rally in Madurai, other reports suggested that the actor likely to follow the path of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who was the single power centre in the party she ran until her death and unlikely project anyone.  

“There are intellectuals, activists and anti-corruption groups guiding and advising him, but he is unlikely to project a second leader next to him in the initial stages,” reports said quoting a source. The party will be in the line of   Aam Aadmi Party and similar anti-corruption movements in Tamil Nadu. The party's name may not include words such as ‘Dravida’ or ‘Kazhagam’. Some of the final designs selected for the flag are simple ones in two or three colours.”

Hassan is expected to Ramanathapuram, his hometown, where he will address a gathering that is expected to be of 2,000 or more people

He will meet people at two more places on the way to Madurai, in Paramakudi and Manamadurai. Organisers expect a few hundred people in both places and he may also deliver speeches.

On the eve of the party launch, DMK working president M K Stalin ridiculed the actor’s political venture. Taking a veiled dig once again at top actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for their political ambitions, DMK Working President M K Stalin likened them to 'glamorous paper flowers' which do not spread fragrance.

"Owing to seasonal changes some flowers may suddenly bloom and later wither. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu's political arena too glamorous paper flowers may bloom," he said in an apparent reference to top actors Rajinikanth and Haasan's political entry.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, in a letter to party cadres said though "such flowers may bloom, they do not spread fragrance," which is seen as an indication that the duo could not succeed and shine in politics though they could enter the fray.

Kamal Haasan was quick to retort to Stalin's jibe, telling reporters at Madurai that "I am not a flower, I am a seed, sow me, I will grow."

Kamal Haasan, who has been meeting senior politicians in the last one week, including DMK’s M Karunanidhi and CPI’s R Nallakannu, besides Rajinikanth, has also visited Vijayakanth, the film-star who turned politician in 2005. 

Asked why he did not meet any leaders of the ruling AIADMK, Kamal Haasan said he does not like this government. “I don’t want to meet them.”