Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has sounded the poll bugle. Haasan announced his potential formal political debut, saying that his party Makkal Needhi Maiam will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"I will definitely contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections", Haasan said.

The actor, who recently announced his retirement from acting, said that a committee will soon start selecting candidates for the general elections.

Given that the poll politics is now heating, with parties forging and breaking alliances, Haasan said that his party will forge alliances with like-minded parties for future elections. He said the party had authorised him to take decisions on alliance issues.

However, Haasan asserted firmly, "We will not ally with any party which is desperate change the DNA of Tamil Nadu." Haasan had previously ruled out any alliance with either the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

On whether he will align with the BJP, Haasan refused to comment, saying "You can say whatever you want. We have our own decisions."

The 64-year-old actor had launched his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (People's Justice Centre) in February this year. Since then, he has spoken against the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, criticising the state government's handling of issues like the anti-Sterlite protest in Tuticorin as well as the Cyclone Gaja.

He calls himself a "polity-culturist [someone who cultivates a new polity]". Haasan said, "Yes. My party should not become redundant till at least 30 years after my death. The polity-culturalism would have worked."