DMK allocates Rajya Sabha seat to Kamal’s party

Chennai

Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the DMK, announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for June 19. The party will contest four out of six seats from the state, while allotting one seat to its ally, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), led by actor-politician Kamal Haasan.

The DMK re-nominated senior advocate P Wilson, who is currently serving as a Rajya Sabha member. Along with him, two new candidates were named: SR Sivalingam, a leader from Salem, and Ruqayya Malik, also known as Kavignar Salma, who is a poet, writer, and active party member.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is also the DMK president, stated that the decision to allocate a seat to Kamal Haasan’s party follows an electoral agreement made with MNM before the elections. This move strengthens the alliance between the two parties.

On July 24, 2025, six Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu will retire, including PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss and MDMK leader Vaiko. Given the current strength of the DMK and its allies in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the party is expected to easily secure four seats in the Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, the main opposition party, AIADMK, is likely to win the remaining two seats, with support from its allies, including the BJP.

This Rajya Sabha election reflects the political balance in Tamil Nadu, showcasing DMK’s dominance along with strategic partnerships that influence the state’s representation in the Upper House.

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), ally of Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK, announced Kamal Haasan as its Rajya Sabha candidate for the June 19 elections. The party’s council formally chose Haasan and sought support from allies. This followed DMK’s decision to allocate a seat to MNM, based on their pre-election alliance before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.