Actor Kamal Haasan is all set to begin his political journey on Wednesday from the residence of former president APJ Abdul Kalam at Rameswaram and to launch his political party at a rally in Madurai in the evening.
Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and CPI (M)'s Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan are likely to attend the public meeting in Madurai, Haasan said, adding that in case if they can't make it, their representatives would attend.
"Our long journey is starting tomorrow. I am going to unfurl our party flag at 6pm at Othakadai grounds in Madurai. I am going to explain (about my) new party and the gist of our guiding principles. Please come, to create a new era," Haasan tweeted. After holding an interaction with fishermen in Rameswaram, the actor would hold interactions with the public in Ramanathapuram, which is his hometown; Paramakudi, where he had his early schooling, and Manamadurai in Sivaganga district.
Ahead of Haasan's political party launch, DMK working president MK Stalin took a veiled dig equating them to "glamorous paper flowers", which do not spread fragrance. "DMK is an ideology based movement nurtured by (party founder) CN Annadurai and Kalaignar (party chief M Karunanidhi), which cannot be destroyed by any force. 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. But such paper flowers will not have fragrance," he said in an apparent reference to top actors Rajinikanth and Haasan's political entry.
Haasan was quick to retort to Stalin's jibe at Madurai saying, "I hope he did not mean me. Anyway, I will tell you that I am not a flower. I am a seed. If you smell, there won't be any fragrance. Sow me, I will grow." Haasan has hinted at pursuing Dravidian politics, unlike Rajinikanth, who has promised to usher in spiritual politics in the state.
Responding to questions on why he did not meet anyone from the ruling AIADMK, Haasan, who had met several personalities including actor and aspiring politician Rajinikanth and DMK president M Karunanidhi, said that he had no intention of meeting anyone from the AIADMK. "I have been clearly saying that this rule is not proper," he told reporters.
