Having negotiated for eight seats in the AIADMK-BJP alliance, the DMDK eventually settled for four. In an interview on Thursday, the party’s deputy general secretary L. K. Sudhish, the brother-in-law of DMDK founder Vijayakant and in-charge of the seat-sharing negotiations, says that the BJP has made certain promises post-government formation. Excerpts:
DMDK played hardball with BJP and AIADMK in alliance negotiations yet you decided to settle for four seats after demanding more than the PMK’s seven. Why?
We had no problem joining the NDA but only had a problem with the number of seats offered. We originally asked for eight Lok Sabha seats and a Rajya Sabha berth. What was offered didn’t work. However, we were given [out of the four LS seats] the constituencies that we wanted (North Chennai, Kallakurichi, Tiruchi and Virudhunagar) and the BJP has made a few promises to us…. after they form the government. We feel we have been compensated adequately.
Critics say you did not handle negotiations with maturity, holding parallel talks with the DMK…
As the head of the committee that decides DMDK’s alliance, I have received appreciation and brickbats in the past. Just like all parties, we did speak to both national and State parties. Obviously, I care more about the interests of my party. I don’t know why it had to be blown out of proportion. [On that day] I went to see Piyush Goyal to tell him that DMDK will not participate in the event (in which PM participated). However, I assured him that the DMDK will be part of the alliance. What happened while I was there (in the hotel)…I didn’t even know completely.
You have an old feud with the PMK. Do you think this alliance can work despite this?
Today, PMK founder Ramadoss and [his son] Anbumani Ramadoss came and met Captain (Vijayakant) and party treasurer Premalatha. After this much-awaited meeting, the cadre on the ground of the two parties will certainly work to ensure victory for the alliance across Tamil Nadu. In 2014, the PMK joined the NDA at the very last minute and that is why there was no cohesion on the ground.
Do you think AIADMK’s missteps and slew of corruption charges in the last two years will affect its alliance partners as well?
We (DMDK) have been speaking only with BJP president Amit Shah and later on, Piyush Goyal. Only after BJP said that AIADMK heads the alliance in Tamil Nadu, we began speaking with AIADMK. In fact, this is the reason for the delay. We will continue to question corruption.
You have accepted the AIADMK as the senior alliance partner. Does that not undercut your claim of being the alternative in Tamil Nadu?
We are still the alternative. This is an election to elect the Prime Minister. We believe that people wanted us to join the BJP-AIADMK alliance in 2019 LS polls just like in 2011 State elections. In politics, we cannot speak about our strategy for the next elections. It may or may not change. We started the party to make Captain Chief Minister and that remains the same.
The BJP has been criticised on a host of issues. What is the DMDK’s view?
The DMDK has appreciated and criticised Modi government based on issues. I am sure we will have a lot of MPs from Tamil Nadu as a part of the Central government.