After much deliberations, Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan announced on Friday that he will contest from the Coimbatore South seat in the Assembly election.

The party also named candidates for 18 constituencies in n e i g h b o u r i n g Puducherry which also goes to polls on April 6 for its 30-member assembly. Haasan, whose party is heading a three-party coalition in Tamil Nadu, will be up against the nominees of BJP and Congress, partners in the AIADMK and DMK led alliances respectively, in Coimbatore South.

Three years after floating the MNM, the 66-year old Haasan is taking the electoral plunge. He chose not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections while his party polled 3.7 per cent votes, entering the fray in 37 constituencies.

"My father's dream was I should become an IAS officer and then enter politics. Though I could not realise his dream (of becoming an IAS officer), my party comprises many (former) IAS officers. That is a proud moment for us," he told reporters here. The party is facing the coming election with allies, actor R Sarath Kumarheaded All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) and India Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) of Lok Sabha MP Paarivendhar and has announced it will test its fortunes from 154 of the 234 seats, leaving the rest to its two partners. Pazha Karuppiah, a former AIADMK MLA who later switched over to DMK, will contest from Thiyagarayanagar constituency in the city.

 Karuppaiah, who was keeping himself away from mainstream politics after quitting the DMK in 2019, joined the MNM recently. Actress Sripriya would also make her electoral debut, testing her fortunes from Mylapore constituency here.

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