Veteran Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) President Kamal Haasan on Thursday delivered a powerful and unambiguous endorsement of the DMK-led alliance, reiterating that his party’s merger was driven solely by deep ideological congruence rather than political compulsion, electoral arithmetic, or any external pressure. Addressing a packed gathering of party workers in Chennai, he underscored that both MNM and DMK have always stood for social justice, rationalist thought, federalism, and inclusive development, making the alliance an organic and long-overdue union of like-minded progressive forces.

Haasan took the opportunity to clear lingering misconceptions about past rivalries, firmly stating that his much-talked-about “war cry” during previous election campaigns was never aimed at the DMK or its leadership. He explained that democratic competition between ideologically close entities is healthy and should not be misconstrued as enmity, adding that the core principles of both parties remained aligned even when they contested separately in earlier polls.

The actor-politician proudly highlighted that several flagship ideas originally presented in MNM’s 2021 manifesto—ranging from innovative youth empowerment schemes and environmental safeguards to administrative transparency measures—have since been embraced and successfully rolled out by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s government. This tangible evidence of policy adoption, Haasan argued, left no room for hesitation and validated his decision to bring MNM fully into the ruling fold.

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The evening’s defining moment arrived when Haasan resorted to poetic symbolism laced with political intent: “Tomorrow the sun will definitely rise; do not fear the darkness, for dawn is inevitable.” He then paused dramatically and declared, “Udhayam will come… and Udhayanidhi will also come—probably as Chief Minister,” eliciting roaring applause as he publicly crowned Deputy Chief Minister and Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin as the natural successor to his father in Tamil Nadu’s top post.

Concluding with unmistakable confidence, Haasan forecasted that the alliance’s triumph in the 2026 Assembly elections would be so overwhelming that the next victory celebration would far outgrow any current venue. “This hall is enough today,” he said with a smile, “but the next appreciation meeting will need a space many times larger,” signalling a decisive and historic mandate for the DMK-led front under its emerging young leadership.

Also Read: Kamal Haasan’s MNM Files for Unified Electoral Symbol for Upcoming Assembly Elections