Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has been granted the ‘Battery Torch’ symbol by the Election Commission, the party has announced.
Tweeting about the symbol on Sunday, Mr. Haasan, the party president, said it was “so appropriate”. “Makkal Needhi Maiam will endeavour to be the ‘torch-bearer’ for a new era in T.N. and Indian politics,” he said.
Addressing mediapersons, Mr. Haasan said that for a party that had, right from the start, sought to shed light on society’s ills, the allotted symbol was apt, adding that it would ‘shine’.
“Our alliance is an extremely strong one, as it is with the people,” he said, when asked whether his party would be aligning with other parties contesting the upcoming polls.
Earlier this month, the MNM issued applications for candidates to contest the polls. “We have so far received 1,137 applications, and the interview process will begin from March 11. We are confident of selecting the right candidates. I will be contesting as well, and will soon announce where [I will contest] from,” Mr. Haasan said.
When asked if he would be seeking fellow film star Rajinikanth’s support, the MNM leader said that while he would not go and ask Mr. Rajinikanth to support him, he was hopeful that the Rajini Makkal Mandram founder would back him.
Responding to queries on the party manifesto, he said the MNM would make promises that it was sure it would be able to fulfil.
