CHENNAI: Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan hoisted his party flag at the party headquarters on the Eldams Road here on Thursday. Haasan, who formally took charge as the president of the party, announced other key functionaries.
Renowned debate moderator G Gnanasambandham from Sholavandan in Madurai was declared vice-president of the party. He was a Tamil professor in the Madurai Thiagarajar College and has played some cameo roles in Tamil films.Agricultural advocate A Arunachalam has taken charge as general secretary of the party and K Suresh as the treasurer of the party.
All these three members were part of the ad-hoc core team which was dissolved by Haasan on Thursday. “The core team has done a great job and I greatly thank each member for their valuable contributions,” he said, announcing that state executive committee would replace the core team and carry out the functions of the erstwhile body.
Kameela Nasser, Sri Priya, Bharathi Krishnakumar, Kumaravel C K, Maurya AG, S Murthy, R Rangarajan, B Raja Narayanan, A Sowrirajan and R Thangavel, who apparently played an active role as core committee members, have been retained in the executive committee. Poet Snehan, who has composed the party’s anthem, seems to have been shouldered out of the party’s inner circle.Hassan has also announced constituency incharges for the party.
Makkal Needhi Maiam slogan practice fails
Minutes before Kamal Haasan arrived at the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office to unfurl the party flag, the cadre which had gathered were given sloganeering practice. The cadre were given handouts by volunteers which outlined what they had to chant in response to the each chant raised by director Bharathi Krishnakumar from the stage. After a few rounds, the interest waned and executive committee member Bharathi Krishnakumar got down from stage. The press, which had gathered for the event, also burst into giggles when most of the party cadre refused outright to be schooled in sloganeering.