PM, Palaniswami are our arch rivals: AMMK
Will partner only with those fundamentally opposed to BJP and AIADMK, the ex-Perambur MLA told DT Next.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-02-26 22:20 GMT
Chennai
With hardly two months to go for the nation to decide on the next Prime Minister, all eyes are on Tamil Nadu, the fifth largest state with 39 Lok Sabha seats. The ruling AIADMK has allied with the BJP, while the opposition DMK has signed the poll pact with the Congress. But the prospects of the AMMK led by RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran, nephew of ousted AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, remain unclear.
AMMK strongman and former Perambur MLA P Vetrivel tells DT Next that the party has decided not to ally with “unreliable partners but would prefer post-poll alliance with the Congress if necessary”.
Q: Both the ruling AIADMK and the DMK have formed an alliance, whereas the AMMK is unable to muster any partners. Why is it so?
A: Our leader Dhinakaran has made it clear that we must travel in Amma’s (Jayalalithaa’s) path. Our party needs only followers and not leaders. The PMK also reached out to me, but we were not interested in roping them in our fold. There were internal discussions about partnering with the DMDK, but again our leader made it clear not to trust the big parties and politicians who twist their statements often. The AMMK is forming a team with minor parties like the Social Democratic Party of India. There is a possibility of minor parties joining us.
Q: Why is your party not interested in big parties?
A: Though a mega alliance may boost the vote share, there is every possibility for the elected MPs to change their mind and support the BJP after elections. We don’t want to take a risk by giving them the seats. We will partner only with those who are fundamentally against the BJP in the Centre and the AIADMK in the State.
Q: All poll surveys predict a clear victory for the DMK in the state and put the BJP as the single largest party in 2019 Polls. Your comments?
A: No poll survey said that TTV Dhinakaran will win RK Nagar Assembly seat. We are connected to the public. The roots are strong as we understand the public mood swing. In rural areas, including Salem, public throng to hear the campaign speeches of our leader. We are not spending money to attract the crowd. The surveys will again be proven wrong after May.
Q: There are several court cases, I-T raids and election commission enquiries pending against your party leaders. Won’t this be a handicap to forge an effective campaign?
A: We will seek time from the judiciary and the investigators by explaining about the elections. The ruling AIADMK will foist more cases against us. However, we are ready to handle them with the help of our legal team.
Q: The PMK, which claims to have around 6 per cent vote share, considered only the AIADMK and the DMK for an alliance. What is your take?
A: Public have started reacting to the unholy alliance through social media posts and memes. They are taking care of the PMK. Our focus is only against PM Modi and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Q: AIADMK leader and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai severely criticised the BJP. Similarly, AIADMK MP Anwar Raja has opposed the BJP alliance initially, but now things have changed. Your views?
A: Thambidurai’s hate speech was a ploy designed by the CM to reduce the BJP to just five seats and it has worked. Being a Muslim leader, Anwar Raja must oppose the BJP. Now both have no other option and will put up a poker face and campaign along with national party leaders.
Lost public connect
DMK leader Stalin has lost his connect with the public and he seems to be playing corporate politics. We wish that he continues to lead his party with his son-in-law. This would help us to repeat RK Nagar (victory) in all the 39 seats. Further, Stalin’s family members are in touch with the BJP and RSS, we will soon expose this.
Unacceptable group
DMDK leader Vijayakant had spoken ill against Amma (Jayalalithaa) and the party filed a case against the construction of the memorial for her. Our cadre and Amma followers, who are with us, will not tolerate if we partner with the DMDK.
Non-entity for now
Rajinikanth has made it clear that he’s not entering politics. There is no point discussing him. Further, he had also conveyed the same in detail to all prominent political parties, then why disturb him?
Loose cannon
Kamal Haasan is a loose cannon. He may join us but could turn around and question our ideology within hours. No Dravidian party will choose Kamal as an alliance partner and it will be a disaster to bank on Kamal. There is no clarity in his speech and Kamal is unclear against whom he is fighting.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android