DMK sources told South First that actor and MNM leader Kamal Haasan may file his nomination for one of the four seats the DMK alliance is guaranteed to win. Other names under consideration include veteran journalist and The Hindu editor N Ram, and DMK legal wing member Saravanan, according to sources familiar with the developments.
Published May 27, 2025 | 5:50 PM ⚊ Updated May 27, 2025 | 5:50 PM
During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kamal Hassan campaigned for DMK candidates as part of the alliance.
Synopsis: Elections for six Rajya Sabha seats in the MLA quota from Tamil Nadu will be held on 19 June. While the DMK and AIADMK alliances are expected to retain their current seats given their respective Assembly strength, political circles are abuzz with speculation over who will succeed the outgoing members. Fresh faces are in contention for DMK alliance seats, while uncertainty looms over the alliance dynamics between the AIADMK, BJP, and PMK.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that elections for six Rajya Sabha seats in the MLA quota from Tamil Nadu will be held on 19 June.
The terms of the current members are set to expire on 24 July.
Of the outgoing members, two belong to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alliance – N Chandrasekaran (AIADMK) and Anbumani Ramadoss (Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)) – while the other four represent the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance: P Wilson, R Shanmugam, and M Mohamed Abdulla from the DMK, and Vaiko from its ally, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
Nominations will be accepted from 2 to 9 June. Voting is scheduled for 19 June, and counting will begin at 5 pm the same day, with results expected shortly thereafter.
Though the DMK and AIADMK alliances – given their respective strength in the Tamil Nadu Assembly – are expected to retain the same number of seats they currently hold in the Rajya Sabha, political circles are already abuzz with speculation about who will succeed the outgoing members.
According to sources within the DMK, Senior Advocate P Wilson – who has been instrumental in the party’s legal strategies and court victories – is likely to be renominated for a second term.
Another name making the rounds is actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader Kamal Haasan.
Though the actor originally launched his party in February 2018 by opposing the Dravidian parties, in recent years he has aligned more closely with the DMK. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he campaigned for DMK candidates as part of the alliance.
Political sources claim that the DMK had promised him a Rajya Sabha seat at that time. However, no official announcement has been made by the party so far.
DMK sources told South First that Haasan may file his nomination for one of the four seats the DMK alliance is guaranteed to win.
As for the remaining two DMK-alliance seats, sources indicate that the DMK may continue to allot Vaiko’s seat to its ally MDMK, and that either Vaiko himself or another senior leader from the party might be nominated.
For the last seat, currently held by R Shanmugam, who represents the DMK-affiliated Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), sources say it might again be given to a trade union representative.
Other names under consideration include veteran journalist and The Hindu editor N Ram, and DMK legal wing member Saravanan, according to sources familiar with the developments.
There is also talk within the DMK of nominating a woman leader to one of the Rajya Sabha seats.
On the AIADMK side, alliance dynamics remain uncertain.
While the AIADMK and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have announced their alliance, it is unclear where the PMK currently stands.
Given the internal rift between PMK Chief S Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss, political observers say the chances of Anbumani being renominated are slim.
Meanwhile, reports also indicate that the BJP may seek one of the Rajya Sabha seats for itself.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
