Rahul Gandhi Wants Kamal Haasan As Tamil Nadu Congress Chief, A Leading Tamil Daily Reports

A leading Tamil daily has reported that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has given his nod for inducting well known film veteran Kamal Haasan as the state party president. Should Kamal Haasan indeed join the Congress he will also be nominated as a Rajya Sabha member in addition to being elevated as state party president.

The Tamil daily reports that Mr Gandhi is intent on re-organising the party structure and leadership after his elevation as national president this September. The Dinamalar report also mentions that Mr Gandhi intends to face the 2019 general elections with a team of fresh faces and appeal for a mandate with full majority.

The proposed induction of Kamal Haasan, the daily reports, is part of Mr Gandhi’s efforts to fill the political vacuum in Tamil Nadu left behind by the death of the state’s erstwhile Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. According to the report an emissary has been appointed to parley with Kamal Haasan. Kushbhoo Sundar, a film personality herself and a key Congress party leader in the state, has tweeted in favour of Mr Haasan’s recent anti-government tirades.

Meanwhile, there have been reports in other media houses that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been wooing Rajinikanth to help lead the party. Rajinikanth is among the most popular of all Tamil film personalities and has been rumored to be interested about joining politics for some years now.

There has yet to be any confirmation or denial from Kamal Haasan’s side about these reports.