Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency candidate Thol Thirumavalavan says the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance is firm in ousting the Modi-led govt.
Thol Thirumavalavan
Ariyalur:
Q: What do you think are the factors that will work in your favour in Chidambaram?
Based on the public feedback, I came to know that the incumbent Chidambaram MP M Chandrakasi (AIADMK) had never visited the constituency in the last five years, nor were the problems faced by the people addressed. For instance, the drinking water issue is persisting. The construction of a check dam across Kollidam river is pending as well.
Q: You are contesting for the fifth time from this constituency. Why are you so attached to Chidambaram?
My native village falls within the Kunnam Assembly segment, which is part of Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency. I have my vote in this constituency. Besides, I got my first political recognition after I was elected as MLA from Mangalore, which was then part of Chidambaram LS constituency, in 2001. Hence, I prefer to try my luck from the same constituency.
Q: Your alliance with the DMK has been criticised as opportunistic considering that you have chosen to align with them despite your criticism of the party in the past. How do you see the criticism?
We have been with the DMK for the last three years. Our alliance, which is based on ideology, is firm in ousting the fascist regime led by Modi. Our alliance was not formed during the elections. We joined hands for a reason, unlike the AIADMK, which did not want an alliance with the BJP initially but wilted under pressure. Our alliance is one of the strongest in the country.
Q: In all your meetings and campaign speeches you are targeting Modi strongly. Don’t you think that over criticism of Modi will swing the tide in favour of him?
In 2014, a pro-Modi wave prevailed in the country but now it is the opposite way and it is visible too. I am not sure about rest of the country, but as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the NDA, in which the AIADMK is part of, will be routed as people are clear that they do not want a puppet government of the BJP in the state.
Q: Right from the beginning you have been a fierce opponent of the BJP and its leaders. What is the reason for your continued attack on the saffron party and does the same reason apply for Modi too?
Right from the beginning, the BJP and RSS have been trying to push the nation back to ancient times and wanted to implement fundamentalist principles in the country. Since I knew their agenda from the beginning, I have been fiercely criticising the BJP and its leaders. The saffron party wants to implement the policy of ‘one nation, one language and one culture’. So, I am keen on ousting the BJP. The sanathana dharma forces tried to push their agenda through former Prime Minister Vajpayee and now they are attempting the same through Modi.
Q: The BJP is criticising the DMK and its alliance partners including your party as anti-Hindu. Is that true?
There is not an iota of truth in that claim. According to BJP leaders, who project themselves as protectors of Hindus, those who criticise them are anti-Hindus. This is not true. We oppose the BJP and its policies, but we are not against Hindus. Close to 90 per cent of the people supporting me are Hindus. How is that possible if I am against the religion? Also, the BJP has done more harm to Hindus than to any other community. The implementation of demonetisation, GST and hydrocarbon extraction projects has harmed Hindus more than others.
Q: You are contesting on the ‘Pot’ symbol. How tough is to popularise the new symbol among the voters?
In this digitised world, symbols are not a big deal. Mainstream media and social media have greatly developed that the ‘Pot’ symbol was made popular within a few hours after it was allotted to me.
Q: For the first time, the VCK is contesting on two symbols in two different constituencies. Why is this confusion? Is this a sign that the DMK is dominating its alliance partners?
Chidambaram and Villupuram constituencies have two different working factors. As far as Chidambaram is concerned, symbol is not an issue as I have won on ‘Star’ symbol in 2009. In Villupuram, we contested thrice and lost all the times. We do not want to give any opportunity to the opponents and hence decided to contest on the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol. The DMK does not generally control the alliance partners. I was elected on the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol in 2001 election, but there was no coercion from the Dravidian party.
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan in the midst of his busy campaign schedule in Chidambaram, from where he is seeking election to the Lok Sabha, squeezed time out to speak to DT Next on various issues, including his decision to align with the DMK and why the Narendra Modi government should be voted out.
Q: What do you think are the factors that will work in your favour in Chidambaram?
Based on the public feedback, I came to know that the incumbent Chidambaram MP M Chandrakasi (AIADMK) had never visited the constituency in the last five years, nor were the problems faced by the people addressed. For instance, the drinking water issue is persisting. The construction of a check dam across Kollidam river is pending as well.
Q: You are contesting for the fifth time from this constituency. Why are you so attached to Chidambaram?
My native village falls within the Kunnam Assembly segment, which is part of Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency. I have my vote in this constituency. Besides, I got my first political recognition after I was elected as MLA from Mangalore, which was then part of Chidambaram LS constituency, in 2001. Hence, I prefer to try my luck from the same constituency.
Q: Your alliance with the DMK has been criticised as opportunistic considering that you have chosen to align with them despite your criticism of the party in the past. How do you see the criticism?
We have been with the DMK for the last three years. Our alliance, which is based on ideology, is firm in ousting the fascist regime led by Modi. Our alliance was not formed during the elections. We joined hands for a reason, unlike the AIADMK, which did not want an alliance with the BJP initially but wilted under pressure. Our alliance is one of the strongest in the country.
Q: In all your meetings and campaign speeches you are targeting Modi strongly. Don’t you think that over criticism of Modi will swing the tide in favour of him?
In 2014, a pro-Modi wave prevailed in the country but now it is the opposite way and it is visible too. I am not sure about rest of the country, but as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the NDA, in which the AIADMK is part of, will be routed as people are clear that they do not want a puppet government of the BJP in the state.
Q: Right from the beginning you have been a fierce opponent of the BJP and its leaders. What is the reason for your continued attack on the saffron party and does the same reason apply for Modi too?
Right from the beginning, the BJP and RSS have been trying to push the nation back to ancient times and wanted to implement fundamentalist principles in the country. Since I knew their agenda from the beginning, I have been fiercely criticising the BJP and its leaders. The saffron party wants to implement the policy of ‘one nation, one language and one culture’. So, I am keen on ousting the BJP. The sanathana dharma forces tried to push their agenda through former Prime Minister Vajpayee and now they are attempting the same through Modi.
Q: The BJP is criticising the DMK and its alliance partners including your party as anti-Hindu. Is that true?
There is not an iota of truth in that claim. According to BJP leaders, who project themselves as protectors of Hindus, those who criticise them are anti-Hindus. This is not true. We oppose the BJP and its policies, but we are not against Hindus. Close to 90 per cent of the people supporting me are Hindus. How is that possible if I am against the religion? Also, the BJP has done more harm to Hindus than to any other community. The implementation of demonetisation, GST and hydrocarbon extraction projects has harmed Hindus more than others.
Q: You are contesting on the ‘Pot’ symbol. How tough is to popularise the new symbol among the voters?
In this digitised world, symbols are not a big deal. Mainstream media and social media have greatly developed that the ‘Pot’ symbol was made popular within a few hours after it was allotted to me.
Q: For the first time, the VCK is contesting on two symbols in two different constituencies. Why is this confusion? Is this a sign that the DMK is dominating its alliance partners?
Chidambaram and Villupuram constituencies have two different working factors. As far as Chidambaram is concerned, symbol is not an issue as I have won on ‘Star’ symbol in 2009. In Villupuram, we contested thrice and lost all the times. We do not want to give any opportunity to the opponents and hence decided to contest on the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol. The DMK does not generally control the alliance partners. I was elected on the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol in 2001 election, but there was no coercion from the Dravidian party.