Ahead of his birthday on November 7, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan has asked his party cadre to focus on welfare programmes instead of coming to wish him in person.

Mr. Haasan asked party members to focus on villages as well as areas affected by dengue and swine flu.

He urged the workers, office-bearers and district in-charges of the party to conduct general medical and blood donation camps from November 7 to 10 and ensure that more people come forward and sign up for organ donation.

He said in a statement that the party had taken a new path wherein politics and welfare merged. He added that the cadre had the responsibility of leading the State out of an “unprecedented dark age”. “Existing political parties and politicians view people’s welfare as alms that are given to begging people and they continue to indulge in corruption,” Mr. Haasan said. He said he would prefer wishing citizens of a “new Tamil Nadu” that would be born soon.