One nation, one election 'dangerous': Kamal Haasan

One nation, one election proposal is 'dangerous', flawed and its scars still exist in some countries and hence, it is not needed for India, and it will not be required in future too, top actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder leader Kamal Haasan said in Chennai on Saturday, 21 September.

Without naming any party or leader, Haasan said had simultaneous polls been held in 2014 or 2015, it would have led to a complete sweep, resulting in dictatorship, loss of freedom of speech and dominance of a single leader.

"You should understand that we have escaped from it...we have escaped from a disease more virulent than Coronavirus," he said, addressing a party meet, apparently indicating that polls about a decade ago had been conducted without embracing the one nation, one election concept.

Though Haasan pointed to Europe and Russia when he commented on simultaneous polls, he did not specify any single country where it had failed.

What would happen if all traffic lights glow in the same colour at the same time, he asked and said people should be given time to think and pick their choice.

The MNM chief said he was advised against entering politics and even hosting the Bigg Boss show. He asked what was wrong in utilising any opportunity that paved the way for meeting and interacting with people.

Since his childhood, when he was about four years old, he is 'on stage' and he is familiar with the limelight, being an actor. "This is not an addiction, but a way of my life. This is the message life tells me. That is why I chose politics."

If a film does not perform well at the box office, producers would say 'no' to an actor. But, people are not like that. "They will remember. They will remember even a failed (hinting at his electoral defeat) politician."

Haasan asserted that he referred only to himself as a failed politician (indicating that he lost polls) and added that failure is not a 'permanent position' and the post of prime minister is also not a 'permanent position.'

In 2021 Assembly election, Haasan was defeated by BJP mahila morcha national chief Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore south constituency. BJP was then an ally of the AIADMK.

Without naming anyone, he said Gandhiji, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had given a strong democratic structure for the nation which could not be overturned despite efforts by some.

Tamil Nadu people, including him and his followers are honest tax payers. Hence, rather than respecting people of the state, "you are trying to give them punishment," he said and voiced concern over the possibility of a reduction in the number of Parliamentary seats for Tamil Nadu due to a proposal for delimitation process.

TN has 39 Lok Sabha seats now.

It is Tamil Nadu which followed the population control mantra of the union government and achieved it.

"Today what you are saying? Your population has come down and why all of you should come to Parliament? It will be suffice if only some (little) go to Parliament and the rest will be taken care by us, from Uttar Pradesh, with about 20 crore population. Hence, seats for us should be more and for you less." It should not be, however, be determined in such a fashion. The country is run by tax payers money, he said, and batted for equitable distribution of funds.

Haasan told his party workers and office-bearers that the MNM is moving towards '26' (2026 TN Assembly election) and all the requisite work must be done. He rejected criticism that he was not a full time politician.

The actor-led party joined the DMK-alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The DMK has assured a Rajya Sabha seat to Haasan's party in 2025.

In the MNM's second general body meeting, held here on Saturday, Haasan was unanimously elected again as party chief.

DMK president and chief minister M.K. Stalin greeted Haasan on his re-election and praised him for his rationalist thinking and egalitarian principles.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai, sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also congratulated Haasan. MNM was founded in 2018.

Meanwhile, BJD president Naveen Patnaik said his party will undertake a detailed study on simultaneous elections before taking a stand on it.

During an interaction at the 12th edition of the Odisha Literary Festival organised by the New Indian Express, he said the party will examine the proposal and its execution.

"Let the details come forth, we will study and take a stand," he said on Saturday.

Replying to a question on the new BJP government in the state, the former CM said, "All can see how the law and order situation in Odisha has declined with the incident of the governor's son at Puri. Recently, an Army major and his fiancee were harassed violently at a major police station in the capital city. This is not a good record."

He referred to the "assault" of an Odia officer allegedly by governor Raghubar Das's son.

The alleged sexual assault of an Army officer's fiancee at a police station here sparked outrage on Friday with Patnaik condemning the incident as "shocking" and demanding a judicial probe, while chief minister Mohan Majhi vowing to take stringent action against the guilty.

Asked about the performance of the state and the central government in its first 100 days, Patnaik said: "It is too early to start counting."

Stating that he had been serving the people of Odisha for the last 24 years, the BJD chief said his work would now continue as the leader of the opposition.