JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — A video by actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan sharply criticizing India’s central government and calling for the re-election of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu was shared on social media by M. A. Sumanthiran, prompting debate over whether the move constitutes an official endorsement or simply a personal post.
In the video, Mr. Kamal Haasan frames the Tamil Nadu election as a choice between decisions being made in Chennai or in New Delhi — a critique of the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He urges voters to support the DMK alliance led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, arguing that the party’s governance model has delivered welfare and social progress.
Mr. Kamal Haasan’s remarks draw on the legacy of Dravidian politics, emphasizing federalism and regional autonomy, and implicitly criticizing what he portrays as centralizing tendencies in New Delhi.
Mr. Sumanthiran, the acting general secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), shared the video without additional comment, but the move has sparked mixed reactions among party supporters and observers.
Some members and affiliates, speaking to Jaffna Monitor, said the post could be interpreted as a political endorsement of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance in a neighboring country’s election — a move they described as inappropriate and potentially counterproductive for a Sri Lankan party.
Others, however, said the post should not be overinterpreted.
Neither M. A. Sumanthiran nor the ITAK has issued an official clarification on why he chose to share a video critical of India’s central government.
Sivapatham, 62, a retired teacher in Jaffna and a long-time ITAK supporter, told Jaffna Monitor that, ultimately, it is India’s central government that has the ability to influence outcomes affecting Sri Lankan Tamils. “Whether one agrees with it or not, only the central government in New Delhi has the power to act,” he said. “Governments in Tamil Nadu — whether led by the DMK or any other party — can voice concerns, but they do not have the authority to act in another country.”
He questioned the political judgment behind the move. “Mr. Sumanthiran, as the acting general secretary and a leading figure in the party, is widely seen as shaping its direction. Why, then, take a step that could be seen as antagonizing the central government?” he said.
Editor’s Note: After the publication of this report, the social media post shared by M. A. Sumanthiran was removed from his page. There is no indication that the removal was related to this report, and it is not immediately clear when or why the post was taken down.
