Kamal Haasan Sworn In As Rajya Sabha Member For The First Time

New Members Take Oath

On Friday, four individuals, including Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president and actor Kamal Haasan, officially took oath as Rajya Sabha members. These new appointments follow the end of terms for six former representatives from Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

The outgoing members were:

DMK's Shanmugam, Muhammad Abdullah, and P. Wilson
MDMK's Vaiko
AIADMK's Chandrasekaran
PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss

On June 19, the following people were elected unanimously in the Rajya Sabha elections:

Kamal Haasan (MNM)
P. Wilson (DMK)
Poet Salma alias Rajathi
S.R. Shivalingam
Inbadurai (AIADMK)
Dhanapal (AIADMK)

Kamal Haasan reached Delhi on Thursday, a day earlier than the swearing-in. On Friday, he was sworn in, along with Wilson, Salma, and Shivalingam. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh took the oath. All four swore their oaths in Tamil.

A note here is that Kamal Haasan, Salma, and Shivalingam are first-timers as Rajya Sabha members, whereas P. Wilson has been there before.

Celebrations at MNM Headquarters

At the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office at Alwarpet, a big screen was set up to broadcast Kamal Haasan's oath-taking ceremony. The event was celebrated by party workers. Outside the office, sweets were being given to pedestrians and commuters.

CM Stalin Congratulates Members

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin congratulated outgoing DMK and alliance members on their Rajya Sabha service. He brought attention to the following:

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko held four Rajya Sabha and one Lok Sabha term.
Shanmugam, from the trade union side, projected worker issues effectively in the Rajya Sabha.
Muhammad Abdullah won cross-party respect for his service and stressed patriotism and religious harmony.
Stalin was confident that P. Wilson would continue to make solid points in Parliament.
He hoped that the newly elected members — Kamal Haasan, Salma, and S.R. Shivalingam — would discharge their responsibilities with honor.