Kamal in, Vaiko out: DMK’s official Rajya Sabha list with poet Salma surprises many

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, has officially announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for July 19 to fill six vacant seats from the state. The DMK will get four of the vacant seats, while the opposition AIADMK will get the remaining two seats.

The DMK's list includes senior advocate P Wilson, who is retained, and former MLA SR Sivalingam and renowned Tamil poet Kavingar Salma, who will contest as DMK representatives.

Additionally, as part of a pre-existing electoral pact, Chief Minister Stalin confirmed that one Rajya Sabha seat has been allocated to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), led by actor-politician Kamal Haasan, marking MNM’s first-ever representation in Parliament.

Also Read: TN Rajya Sabha election: Will Kamal Haasan and Vaiko secure seats?

Notably, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko has been excluded from the candidate list, signalling a shift in the DMK’s alliance priorities.

Kamal's MNM party is not a recognised party by ECI. Sources said that Kamal will be an independent candidate backed by the DMK alliance.

Carefully-crafted political strategy

The DMK’s announcement comes in the context of a carefully-crafted political strategy following the party’s resounding success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, part of the INDIA bloc, secured a clean sweep of all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Puducherry.

A key factor in this victory was the support from MNM, which, despite not contesting the elections, campaigned extensively for the alliance. As part of the alliance agreement finalised on March 9, 2024 at the DMK headquarters in Chennai, Stalin assured MNM a Rajya Sabha seat in 2025 in exchange for their support.

Also Read: ‘Kannada born out of Tamil’: Kamal Haasan sparks row with remark; 'apologise', says BJP

Kamal Haasan, a celebrated actor and founder of MNM in 2018, has been an advocate for governance reforms and transparency. Despite electoral setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (3.72 per cent vote share) and the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections (2.62 per cent vote share), MNM’s alignment with the DMK has revitalised its political relevance.

The Rajya Sabha nomination, widely expected to be for Kamal himself, fulfills the DMK’s commitment and positions him for a parliamentary debut, bringing star power to the Upper House. However, MNM spokesperson Murali Appas noted that Kamal Haasan would consult party office-bearers before finalising the candidate, leaving room for speculation.

The candidates

- P Wilson, a senior advocate and incumbent Rajya Sabha MP, is set to be renominated, reflecting the DMK’s confidence in his legal expertise and parliamentary contributions. His re-nomination ensures continuity in the party’s representation.

- SR Sivalingam, a former MLA, district secretary (Salem east), a follower of former minister Veerapandian, who was a strongman of the Salem region. Sivalingam belongs to the Udayar community and can help consolidate the non-Vanniyar vote bank in the upcoming assembly election.

- Kavingar Salma, a renowned Tamil poet and writer, represents a nod to Tamil Nadu’s cultural and literary heritage. Her nomination is seen as an effort to blend intellectual and artistic voices into the DMK’s parliamentary presence, appealing to a broader electorate.

Why was Vaiko not considered?

The omission of MDMK leader Vaiko, whose Rajya Sabha term ends in July 2025, has sparked discussions about the DMK’s alliance dynamics.

Vaiko, a long-standing ally and veteran politician, has been a Rajya Sabha member since 2019, following a deal that also secured MDMK a Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and 2024. Despite MDMK’s contributions to the alliance, Stalin appears to have prioritised MNM’s nomination, possibly due to Kamal Haasan’s broader appeal and the strategic importance of consolidating urban voters ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Also Read: In TN, father-son face-offs fuel power struggles in both MDMK and PMK

Star power to counter Vijay

DMK sources said, "The party is taking this decision with the political entry of Vijay. There is speculation that his TVK may cut DMK-ally votes. So the party needs a star campaigner to counter him somehow".

The sources suggest that Vaiko’s lobbying for a renomination was unsuccessful, with the party opting to accommodate its own leaders and MNM instead.

Durai Vaiko reaffirms commitment to alliance

Durai Vaiko, the principal secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and son of party founder Vaiko, has confirmed that the MDMK will continue its alliance with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, dismissing any speculation of discord.

Durai Vaiko stated, “There are no issues with our DMK ally. We will remain part of the DMK-led alliance and fight together in the upcoming 2026 elections.”

Also Read: Tamil Nadu will always be out of Delhi's control, no Shah can rule it: Stalin

Sources within the DMK indicate that during the 2024 Parliament election negotiations, the party leadership had informed MDMK that Vaiko might not be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha since a Lok Sabha seat was given to his son.

The MDMK, a key regional ally with a traditional vote bank in areas like Trichy, was allocated one Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections, with Durai Vaiko contesting from Tiruchirappalli and securing a significant victory with a margin of over 3.11 lakh votes.