In a significant political move ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday announced its list of candidates for the biennial polls to fill six vacancies from Tamil Nadu. As per the announcement made by DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the party has decided to re-nominate incumbent MP P. Wilson. Additionally, S.R. Sivalingam and A. Rokkaiah Malik — the latter known widely by her pen name, poet Salma — have been fielded as fresh faces for the Upper House. Demonstrating alliance solidarity, Stalin also confirmed that one Rajya Sabha seat would be allotted to actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), fulfilling a pre-election agreement between the two parties.

The Election Commission of India had announced on May 26 the schedule for the Rajya Sabha elections, with six seats from Tamil Nadu slated to fall vacant in July 2025. These include the seats currently held by AIADMK’s N. Chandrasegharan, DMK’s P. Wilson, M.M. Abdulla, and M. Shanmugam, as well as MDMK’s Vaiko and PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss. The political balance in Tamil Nadu’s representation at the national level is likely to see a shift, especially with DMK consolidating its influence and further cementing its alliance with MNM. The move to nominate Kamal Haasan, a prominent public figure and vocal reformist, reflects the DMK-led coalition’s strategy to blend seasoned experience with public appeal in the Upper House.

As per the ECI’s schedule, the notification for the elections will be issued on June 2, and the last date to file nominations will be June 9. Scrutiny will take place the following day, and June 13 will be the final day to withdraw nominations, if any. Should a contest arise, polling will occur on June 19, with votes being counted later that evening. With the DMK and its allies holding a significant majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, their nominees are expected to win comfortably unless unexpected developments arise.