MNM aspirants demand Rs 50,000 refund after Kamal Haasan exits poll race

The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) is facing criticism as several prospective candidates, who paid Rs 50,000 each to contest the upcoming Assembly elections, are now demanding refunds, sources said.

The development comes after actor-turned-politician and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan recently decided to skip the polls, leaving many aspirants disappointed and seeking the return of their application fees.

According to the party officials, the payments are treated as contributions to the party and will not be returned at this time.

Party functionaries expressed frustration over the decision to skip the elections after inviting applications and collecting fees.

Earlier, on March 24, Kamal Haasan’s MNM, a constituent of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, announced that it would not contest the April 23 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

The party said that the number of seats offered by the DMK and the suggestion that MNM candidates contest under DMK’s Rising Sun symbol were unacceptable.

"In today's difficult political environment, the number of seats that they (DMK) have promised to give us and the suggestion that we should contest under the Rising Sun symbol are not acceptable to the members of the MNM and to me,” Haasan has said in a statement.

Kamal Haasan declared that while his party will not participate in the polls, it will extend unconditional support to all candidates of the DMK-led alliance.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin lauded the decision, calling it a “magnanimous move that sets aside self-interest with dignity and prioritises the welfare of Tamil Nadu.”

"I don't know how to express my gratitude to him. His decision has deeply moved me," CM Stalin said and thanked Haasan.

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