Haasan meets Sonia, sets off alliance speculation

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 21

Actor Kamal Haasan on Thursday met former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence here and described the meeting as a courtesy call.

Haasan said he discussed the political situation of Tamil Nadu with Gandhi. “I had met the Congress leaders when they came to Karnataka recently for the installation of the JD(S)-Congress government. This is a follow-up courtesy meeting. We discussed the state’s political situation,” said Hassan, who recently floated a party called Makkal Needhi Maiam.

Asked if he also discussed an alliance possibility, Hassan said, “No. But we will let you know when that discussion takes place.” Haasan yesterday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi amid early signals of alliance building in the Dravidian state where the recent entry of two top actors had spiced up the political story.

Although it remains unclear which side will superstar Rajinikant go, the actor’s utterances make him appear closer to the BJP.  Haasan on the other hand recently said “saffron is not my colour” closing the possibility of a pact with Rajinikanth and opening the doors for joining an anti-BJP front. Hassan is now working to register his party and met Election Commission officials in preparation of the move.