Actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), was allotted the Battery Torch symbol on Tuesday to contest the upcoming elections in Puducherry.
The Election Commission of India issued a notification formally assigning the torchlight symbol to the party for the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections. The announcement was made by the Media Wing of Makkal Needhi Maiam.
“The Election Commission of India has issued a notification allotting the torchlight symbol to the Makkal Needhi Maiam party for contesting the 2026 Puducherry Assembly elections,” the party’s media wing wrote.
Kamal Haasan’s party was given the Battery Torch symbol to contest the Tamil Nadu polls in January by the Election Commission of India.
Last month, MNM began its preparations for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. At a recent executive meeting in Chennai, the party adopted several resolutions, including setting up an election war room and addressing key policy areas such as federalism, rural employment reforms, and identity politics.
The MNM executive and working committees announced that individuals wishing to contest in the 2026 elections on the party’s ticket may submit their nominations starting Saturday. The nomination fee for prospective candidates has been set at Rs 50,000.
“The move is aimed at identifying candidates early and building visibility well ahead of the election cycle, party functionaries said,” Party officials stated.
Kamal Haasan launched Makkal Needhi Maiam on February 21, 2018, in Madurai, with an agenda focused on combating corruption and communalism. As of 2026, MNM is allied with the DMK-led alliance, and Haasan became a Rajya Sabha member on July 25, 2025.
