Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan will be taking a short break from his election campaign for the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as he will be undergoing surgery on his leg. As per the advice of his doctors, he will take a rest for a couple of days before resuming his campaign. Haasan said he will use the period of rest to reflect on the learnings and understanding of the first leg of his campaign. In a statement shared on social media, he said “I have completed my first leg of my election campaign, Re-Imagine Thamizh Nadu. I travelled throughout the state covering over 5000 kilometers in fifteen days spread over the last five weeks to meet with our people. I have returned after personally witnessing the upsurge of people longing for a change. My zest to meet with my people and to understand their concerns outweighed the advise given to me on my personal safety.” Haasan added that he has successfully completed the Season 4 of Big Boss which had commenced when lockdown regulations were stricter due to corona. He said he feels happy to have interacted with over four and a half crore people through Big Boss. Explaining the need to undergo surgery, Haasan said “Due to an accident, I had undergone a surgery on my leg. In continuation to that surgery, I was required to undergo a follow up surgery. The doctors have advised me to take rest till then. I undertook my professional and political responsibilities superseding the advise given to enable me to reach to my brothers and sisters. “The love and affection showered by the people of Thamizh Nadu, was an effective anecdote to the severe pain that I used to suffer during my campaign. Now I have an opportunity to take some rest. Therefore I would be undergoing the follow up surgery on my leg, advised. I will come back fully rejuvenated within a few days to resume my campaign with renewed vigor.” Haasan added that though he will not be able to meet people in person, he will be using technology to continue being in touch. “We shall continue to keep discussing and formulating the changes that we shall bring out for the betterment of Thamizh Nadu. Rest assured, my voice shall continue to be heard always for my people, land and language whenever they undergo suffering. Our light shall shiner and brighter,” the statement read. A couple of days ago, the MNM leader took to social media to announce that the election commission has allotted the ‘Battery Torch’ symbol to his party in all the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The EC had allotted the ‘Battery Torch’ symbol (on which MNM contested in 2019 Lok sabha election) to a lesser-known outfit named MGR Makkal Katchi. MNM had then approached the Madras High Court to direct the EC allot the symbol back to them. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, MNM garnered a vote share close to 4 per cent.
