2019 Lok Sabha Elections: Setback to Kamal Haasan, Naturals' CK Kumaravel quits MNM, cites internal politics

Chennai: With less than a month to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Naturals' salon chain co-founder CK Kumaravel has quit Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM). Kumaravel cited internal party politics within MNM among others behind his decision to sent his resignation to party chief actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan.

This has come days before the party was going to announced the list of candidates for the general elections. 

Kumaravel sent his resignation by hand to Haasan saying that he cannot deal with the internal party politics. "Start-ups are supposed to be fast and agile, and we are one of the last to announce our candidates. There are many other factors and differences in opinion that led to my decision to send the letter," Kumaravel was quoted by ET as saying. 

Reports suggest that Kumaravel was set to contest the upcoming polls from his home town, Cuddalore. The MNM will announce its candidates for the general elections and bypolls on March 20. Haasan has announced that MNM will contest on all the 40 parliamentary seats including the seat of Puducherry and 18 Assembly seats. 

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The polls in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 18 with the AIADMK-BJP-PMK alliance against DMK-Congress-CMP alliance. Haasan had decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls alone to avoid what he said "the stain of corruption." MNM is among a few parties in the state that will contest the elections alone. 

MNM was launched by Haasan on February 21 last year from his home town Rameswaram. During the election campaign, Haasan has reached out to the state's rural places interacting with locals and villagers.