MNM will support Congress in Erode East bypoll in TN: Kamal Haasan
Chennai (PTI): Actor Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Wednesday extended unconditional support to Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan for the February 27 Erode East by-poll, saying it was a "moment of national importance" to fight for the common cause of joining hands against "communal forces."
Elangovan, senior Congress leader and former union minister, is the candidate of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Aliance (SPA). The bypoll was necessitated due to the recent death of sitting local legislator and his son Thirumahan Everaa.
DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin thanked Haasan for extending support to the SPA.
Briefing reporters after chairing a meeting of the party's Governing and Executive councils, Haasan said they unanimously decided to extend "unconditional support" to the DMK-led SPA candidate and "my friend" Elangovan.
"Myself and my partymen will extend whatever assistance is required for Elangovan's win," and ensure a big victory margin for the Congress leader, Haasan added.
This is the first time the actor-politician is extending support to a candidate of another party in the elections as MNM had faced the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2021 state Assembly elections by itself.
Asked about his supporting the DMK backed candidate, Haasan said he had joined hands to fight against communal forces and those that were trying to "intrude" into every aspect of people's life, including food.
Elected governments were not being allowed to function freely, he alleged.
"When it comes to national importance, you have to rub off differences," he said, responding to a question but indicated any decision over possible alliance for the 2024 Parliamentay elections will be taken then.
Elangovan had earlier met Haasan.
The MNM chief also announced appointing senior leader A Arunachalam as the party's election in-charge for the Assembly segment.
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Haryana cop's death about all Dalits, PM and CM should act immediately: Rahul Gandhi
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana police officer Y Puran Kumar's death is not about the respect of one family but all Dalits, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday while asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to act immediately in the case.
Addressing reporters after meeting the family of the senior police officer who was found with a gunshot wound in his Chandigarh home last week, Gandhi said there was systematic discrimination against Kumar to demoralise him and damage his career.
"A wrong message is being sent out to Dalits... that no matter how successful you are, if you are Dalit, you can be oppressed and crushed," the former Congress president said.
He said the Haryana chief minister has not fulfilled his commitment of a free and fair inquiry.
Gandhi said there was a lot of pressure on Kumar's family, particularly his two daughters.
His visit came amid stepped up attacks by the opposition against the Haryana government over Kumar's alleged suicide.
In an eight-page final note purportedly left behind by him, the 52-year-old accused eight senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and now transferred Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, of "blatant caste-based discrimination, targeted mental harassment, public humiliation and atrocities".
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