Chennai, April 30: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Monday officially launched a mobile application for whistleblowers in Tamil Nadu. Haasan, who heads the newly launched Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), has asked his party cadres, apart from civil society activists, to download the app - 'Maiam Whistle' - and post details of any lax work or corruption by civic officials, bureaucrats and elected legislators.

Haasan urged his supporters and MNM volunteers to become "political activists" and use the Maiam Whistle to expose the administrative failure in their respective areas. "Even if you see garbage being littered and the municipal body not doing its work, you must post the details and pictures on the app," he said in a video address on social media.

Haasan has released the app days after fellow-actor-turned politician Rajinikanth also released a mobile application for members and supporters of his party, Rajini Makkal Mandram.

Haasan (63) and Rajinikanth (68) took a plunge into state politics earlier this year, promising to fight the upcoming local elections. Their entry into the electoral fray was ridiculed by the incumbent political majors, with the DMK calling them "flowers without fragrance". "They will wither away soon, the party said in its mouthpiece.

Pollsters claim the entry of Rajinikanth and Haasan in the poll fray is an attempt by the two leaders to fill the vacuum created in the state politics by late actor-turned-politician Jayalalithaa. Post her demise in December 2016, the ruling AIADMK has been divided into warring factions. Meanwhile, the public life of 94-year-old M Karunanidhi has been severely restricted, which analysts claim has hurt the popularity of the DMK.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2018 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).