Madurai Feb 21: Noted film actor Kamal Haasan ceremoniously entered the political fray on Wednesday, launching his own political party. The outfit has been named as Makkal Needhi Maiam or the People's Justice Party, which makes one recall the pre-independence Justice Party based in Madras Presidency of British India.

At Haasan's grand political launch, he was accompanied at the stage by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal. AAP's Tamil Nadu unit in-charge Somnath Bharti was also present.

Among other political leaders who welcomed his entry into politics include Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. Both the leaders, despite not being able to attend the launch ceremony, wished Haasan success for his political run.

"This is not a one day ceremony. This will be relentless campaign to improve the lives of our people," Haasan said at his party's launch. "Guide me to serve you. There has been atrocities committed against people of my state. This is a fight for justice," he added.

While Haasan did not reveal his immediate political plans, he stressed during his address that "one of my friends is surely Kejriwal".

The rally at Madurai, where Hasaan revealed his party's name and flag, was a culmination of a series of public meetings addressed by the actor-turned-politician over the past two days.

Earlier in the day, Haasan addressed a public meeting in Rameswaram, the hometown of late former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, followed by an interaction with his followers at his hometown Ramanathapuram. "I am no more a cinema star. From now on, I will be a lamp at your home," he had told the gathering at his birthplace.

Although Haasan has taken a nascent step into politics, he drew flak from the incumbent political majors in the state. DMK's working president M K Stalin, who reportedly shares a bonhomie with Haasan, took a swipe against him by calling his party "a paper flower". "As the climate changes, such flower bloom out. But they are without any fragrance and wither away soon," Stalin said in a letter to his party cadres.

The AIADMK, which remains at loggerheads with the opposition DMK, agreed with the views of Stalin on Hasaan's political venture. "Mr Stalin is correct. He is a paper flower who can never blossom in politics," said senior party leader D Jayakumar.

Veteran Congressman and former Karnataka CM Veerappa Moily also sounded a pessimistic note, while predicting Haasan's political future. "There is no space for new parties in Tamil Nadu. How can you offer an alternative to both AIADMK and DMK without a solid regional agenda?" he told reporters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 21, 2018 08:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).