CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan charged Makkal Needhi Maiam founder president Kamal Haasan of acting as a B-team of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu by trying to split the anti-incumbency vote. In an interview to DT Next, Balakrishnan said that the actor-politician wants to split the anti-BJP and the anti-AIADMK votes from going to the DMK-led alliance in the state. Excerpts:
CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan
Chennai:
The AIADMK is trying to create an image of floating a mega alliance, but the reality is different. It may have many constituents in terms of the number of parties, but it lacks the people’s support. In this elections, the primary concern of the people is how to remove the Narendra Modi government. All sections of the people from businessman to peasants are affected by this government. There is a widespread anti-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu. Besides, the AIADMK now is not the old party post Jayalalithaa’s demise. Even now the AIADMK is faction-ridden. The party’s support base has eroded drastically. They are facing double anti-incumbency of Modi government at the Centre and Edappadi K Palaniswami government in the state. People obviously see the DMK alliance as an alternative and would vote for it.
What do you think are the primary issues concerning the voters in the 17th Lok Sabha polls?
All sections of the people are badly impacted by the price rise in the last five years and the negative growth in the industrial sector. Particularly, the fireworks industries in Virudhunagar, manufacturing sector in Coimbatore, knitwear sector in Tirupur and power looms in Erode were severely affected. Unemployment is a serious problem across the country with no new recruitments either in the government or the private sector taking place. Agrarian distress in the state is a major issue and particularly the impact of natural disasters.
Both the Dravidian parties – AIADMK and the DMK have allocated seats for caste-based parties. Is Tamil Nadu going backwards by giving undue importance for such parties?
It is the AIADMK-led alliance which has given importance to the casteist and communal forces. The ruling party has aligned with communal BJP and casteist PMK. Political parties in our front did not campaign across the state for caste-based consolidation whereas the AIADMK has aligned with parties which are known for instigating caste violence.
This is the first general elections to be held after the demise of DMK chief M Karunanidhi and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. How their absence will impact this elections?
The absence of Kalaignar and Jayalalithaa is a new factor. But there is no qualitative change either in the DMK or the alliance led by it. The DMK continues to function in such a way how Karunanidhi would have taken it forward with the allies unitedly. However, the absence of Jayalalithaa is being felt in the AIADMK-led front. The ruling party in the state lacks leadership and it is faction-ridden.
DMK president MK Stalin has accused the AIADMK alliance as an opportunistic one. The AIADMK is also making the same accusation against the DMK. They point to MDMK, Left and VCK joining their alliance after contesting the 2016 Assembly polls as a separate front. What is your take on it?
The last Assembly election was held under different circumstances. In the last two years, we had jointly held several movements and protests along with the DMK against the Centre and the state governments. Only after such joint movements, we have decided to join the DMK-led alliance. Unlike the AIADMK-led alliance whose constituents were hitting out at each other till recently. They never came together on a platform on any issue before forming this alliance. Everyone knows what PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss spoke about the Edappadi government and Modi government. What has changed in last month? It is the AIADMK-led alliance which is an opportunistic one
Kamal Haasan has accused the CPM of joining an alliance with the DMK whose cadre were accused of murdering your party councillor Leelavathi in Madurai. What is your take on it?
Whom Kamal Haasan supports in this election is more important than whatever he spoke about us. He wants to split the anti-BJP and anti-AIADMK votes going towards the DMK-led alliance. Kamal is functioning as a B-team of the AIADMK-BJP.
TTV Dhinakaran has managed to get a common symbol for his party candidates. What will be its impact in the upcoming polls?
I don’t think they will be able to win any seats. In some seats, he may split a considerable number of AIADMK votes. Nothing more.
Does the split in the AIADMK votes help DMK alliance?
It may help us in some seats. But our victory is not dependent on the split of the AIADMK votes alone. Truth is that the AIADMK vote bank has eroded drastically. We will be able to consolidate the support of the people opposing the Centre and the state governments.
Your party is contesting in Madurai and Coimbatore LS seats. How are your party’s chances there?
We have good chance of winning both the seats. Traditionally, Madurai and Coimbatore constituencies have voted for the Left candidates.
How are the prospects of the DMK-led alliance after the AIADMK floating a formidable front comprising BJP, PMK and DMDK?
The AIADMK is trying to create an image of floating a mega alliance, but the reality is different. It may have many constituents in terms of the number of parties, but it lacks the people’s support. In this elections, the primary concern of the people is how to remove the Narendra Modi government. All sections of the people from businessman to peasants are affected by this government. There is a widespread anti-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu. Besides, the AIADMK now is not the old party post Jayalalithaa’s demise. Even now the AIADMK is faction-ridden. The party’s support base has eroded drastically. They are facing double anti-incumbency of Modi government at the Centre and Edappadi K Palaniswami government in the state. People obviously see the DMK alliance as an alternative and would vote for it.
What do you think are the primary issues concerning the voters in the 17th Lok Sabha polls?
All sections of the people are badly impacted by the price rise in the last five years and the negative growth in the industrial sector. Particularly, the fireworks industries in Virudhunagar, manufacturing sector in Coimbatore, knitwear sector in Tirupur and power looms in Erode were severely affected. Unemployment is a serious problem across the country with no new recruitments either in the government or the private sector taking place. Agrarian distress in the state is a major issue and particularly the impact of natural disasters.
Both the Dravidian parties – AIADMK and the DMK have allocated seats for caste-based parties. Is Tamil Nadu going backwards by giving undue importance for such parties?
It is the AIADMK-led alliance which has given importance to the casteist and communal forces. The ruling party has aligned with communal BJP and casteist PMK. Political parties in our front did not campaign across the state for caste-based consolidation whereas the AIADMK has aligned with parties which are known for instigating caste violence.
This is the first general elections to be held after the demise of DMK chief M Karunanidhi and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa. How their absence will impact this elections?
The absence of Kalaignar and Jayalalithaa is a new factor. But there is no qualitative change either in the DMK or the alliance led by it. The DMK continues to function in such a way how Karunanidhi would have taken it forward with the allies unitedly. However, the absence of Jayalalithaa is being felt in the AIADMK-led front. The ruling party in the state lacks leadership and it is faction-ridden.
DMK president MK Stalin has accused the AIADMK alliance as an opportunistic one. The AIADMK is also making the same accusation against the DMK. They point to MDMK, Left and VCK joining their alliance after contesting the 2016 Assembly polls as a separate front. What is your take on it?
The last Assembly election was held under different circumstances. In the last two years, we had jointly held several movements and protests along with the DMK against the Centre and the state governments. Only after such joint movements, we have decided to join the DMK-led alliance. Unlike the AIADMK-led alliance whose constituents were hitting out at each other till recently. They never came together on a platform on any issue before forming this alliance. Everyone knows what PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss spoke about the Edappadi government and Modi government. What has changed in last month? It is the AIADMK-led alliance which is an opportunistic one
Kamal Haasan has accused the CPM of joining an alliance with the DMK whose cadre were accused of murdering your party councillor Leelavathi in Madurai. What is your take on it?
Whom Kamal Haasan supports in this election is more important than whatever he spoke about us. He wants to split the anti-BJP and anti-AIADMK votes going towards the DMK-led alliance. Kamal is functioning as a B-team of the AIADMK-BJP.
TTV Dhinakaran has managed to get a common symbol for his party candidates. What will be its impact in the upcoming polls?
I don’t think they will be able to win any seats. In some seats, he may split a considerable number of AIADMK votes. Nothing more.
Does the split in the AIADMK votes help DMK alliance?
It may help us in some seats. But our victory is not dependent on the split of the AIADMK votes alone. Truth is that the AIADMK vote bank has eroded drastically. We will be able to consolidate the support of the people opposing the Centre and the state governments.
Your party is contesting in Madurai and Coimbatore LS seats. How are your party’s chances there?
We have good chance of winning both the seats. Traditionally, Madurai and Coimbatore constituencies have voted for the Left candidates.