Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam allotted ‘battery torch’ symbol for Lok Sabha polls

Actor #KamalHaasan's #MakkalNeedhiMaiam (MNM) has been granted the 'Battery Torch' symbol by the Election Commission for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in #TamilNadu and #Puducherry. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/GQac76qTPB

— Janardhan Koushik (@koushiktweets) February 13, 2024

The MNM, founded by Haasan in 2018, made its debut in the 2019 Lok Sabha election under the ‘battery torch symbol. It again contested in 2021 Assembly elections under the same symbol but failed to win any seats.

The party, which was launched as an alternative force to the dominant Dravidian parties in the state, failed to make an impact in both elections. The exodus of its core members and consecutive electoral losses relegated the party to insignificance in the state’s political arena.

Haasan, who claimed to be a centrist, altered his stand when he extended support to the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance candidate E V K S Elangovan of the Congress in the Erode by-poll held last year.

A few weeks ago, the party announced the formation of a three-member committee comprising senior party members A G Mourya, R Thangavelu (vice-president) and A Arunachalam (general secretary) to coordinate the works in the run up for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

“The committee, which will function under my direct supervision, has been provided directions to chart out action plans related to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, implement them and provide directions to other committees,” Haasan had said.