Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan launched his political party Makkal Needhi Maiam at a public meeting in Madurai on 21 February 2018. Kamal Haasan also revealed the party flag during the party launch event on the same day which has six interlocked hands symbolising six southern states. After Kamal Haasan announced that his party will be contesting in the Lok Shaba Election in 2019, the election commission allotted a battery torchlight as the party's symbol.
Makkal Needhi Maiam declared to contest on 40 seats included 39 of Tamil Nadu and 1 of Puducherry. Kamal Haasan did not make alliance with any of the other parties and went in as an individual party. Kamal Haasan also revealed that he will not be contesting in any constituency but his party candidates will contest in all the constituencies. Kamal Haasan went on a political tour visiting all the districts in the state and campaigned for the election.
The Lok Shaba Elections happened in seven phases around the country beginning on Aprill 11th to May 19th. The polling happened in Tamil Nadu on April 18th and the voting percentage was registered as one of the highest. The vote counting began early on May 23rd and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won poll with dominance.
Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam failed to win a single seat in the Lok Shaba Elections. But the part managed to secure third place in 12 constituencies with also 6% of votes overall. Political Analysts have given the word that it is a decent start for MNM since it is the first time they facing election.
Here is the list of 12 MNM candidates who managed to hold third place in their constituencies,
1. North Chennai - AG Mourya
2. Central Chennai - Kameela Nasser
3. South Chennai - S Rangarajan
4. Coimbatore - Dr R Mahendran
5. Pollachi - Mookambigai Rathinam
6. Tirupur - VS Chandrakumar
7. Sriperumbudhur - M Sridar
8. Erode - A Saravanakumar
9. Salem - M Prabhu Manikandan
10. Madurai - M Azhagar
11. Tiruvallur - Dr M Logarangan
12. Pondy - MAS Subramaniyan
