Tamil Nadu elections 2021: One wants to keep crown, the other to seize it

Ahead of Tuesday’s assembly election, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami exuded confidence that the AIADMK is set for a second run under him. Asked if his party would agree to a coalition government if it won, EPS, in an interview, told Jaya Menon and V Senthil Kumaran, “I am confident the AIADMK will win with adequate seats to form a stable government on its own.”
How would you assess the AIADMK’s prospects?
AIADMK’s prospects are better. I am confident that we will win with a comfortable margin to form a strong government to continue our development agenda.

You expressed hurt over A Raja’s remarks. Do you accept his apology?
There is an adage by Thiruvalluvar that even the wounds caused by fire will heal but not wounds caused by words… DMK leaders are known for indecency and arrogance. I leave it to the people to judge these leaders based on their words.
First Covid-19; then the fight to be named CM candidate; BJP’s seeming resistance to AIADMK leading alliance; Sasikala factor; PMK’s demand for 10.5% vanniyar quota; exit of DMDK. What helped you through all this?
I am guided by the spirit of Amma and divine force. Self-confidence, goodwill and support of people give me the strength to take hard decisions.
Given the state’s finances, how prudent was the announcement of freebies, including washing machines?
… Sometimes, welfare measures are termed as freebies. But I feel it is essential to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor and to ensure equitable access to resources and standard of living. It fulfils the wishes of poor people.
Did BJP or Amit Shah, to be more specific, suggest that AIADMK align with AMMK?
AIADMK is a free and independent party. We take all decisions independently.
What forced you to finally give in to PMK’s demand for 10.5% vanniyar quota?
In our judgment, it only contributed to equity of opportunity to that social group without harming other OBC social groups.
The BJP including Amit Shah has publicly said there will be a coalition government if the alliance wins.
I am confident that AIADMK will win with adequate number of seats to form a stable government on its own.
Why didn’t you adopt Amma’s 2016 strategy of going it alone?
Amma is a great force. I know our strength and weakness. We are contesting this election with allies who are in line with our thinking.
How is your relationship and teamwork with OPS?
We are comfortable. We proved that the collective leadership will work positively.
Opposition leader M K Stalin has submitted a memorandum of allegations against you, deputy CM and six ministers to the governor.
M K Stalin lives in an illusionary world and all his allegations are politically motivated. There is no evidence for them. On many occasions, I have elaborately replied to such false and manufactured allegations.
Do you think voters miss J Jayalalithaa?
No doubt all of us miss Madam. But she lives on in our hearts, guiding us.
How do you compare your style of functioning with that of Jayalalithaa?
There is no comparison… She is a legend. We were all brought up by her and are trying to emulate her.
How do you compare Karunanidhi and Stalin as opponents?
Karunanidhi is very diligent but Stalin is no comparison to him in terms of experience and knowledge.
‘BJP, AIADMK bribing voters, where’s I-T?’
A day after I-T searches at his daughter’s house, DMK president M K Stalin, in an interview to Jaya Menon, said, “There are constituencies of the chief minister, deputy CM and ministers where corruption money is flowing like flood water. Why hasn’t the I-T department searched these places?”
How do you see DMK’s prospects?
There is an anti-“AIADMK-BJP” wave in Tamil Nadu. People are fed up with this ‘slave’ AIADMK government led by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. The BJP government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre did nothing for Tamil Nadu in the last seven years. I am confident that DMK and its allies will win all the 234 assembly seats.
You have blamed Narendra Modi for the I-T searches at your daughter’s house. Do you have any evidence to justify your charge?
The AIADMK is in power for the past 10 years. Massive corruption and scams are the face of the AIADMK government. There are constituencies of the chief minister, deputy CM and ministers where corruption money is flowing like flood water. Where has this I-T department gone? Today even BJP cadres were caught distributing money to voters in Coimbatore. Why hasn’t the I-T department raided any AIADMK and BJP bigwigs? It is because the Prime Minister only wants the DMK and my daughter’s house to be searched. The PM stays in Madurai and early the following day, the searches take place. The misuse of I-T to target the opposition is the modus operandi of the BJP government led by Prime Minister Modi. Just look at all the I-T raids organised since the BJP came to power at the Centre and you would have evidence as to why my daughter’s house and DMK leaders’ houses were searched.
On A Raja’s statements against the CM, do you think the ECI debarring him from campaigning for 48 hours was justified?
It is an AIADMK-BJP — intentional, conspiratorial and election-centric — “cut and paste” smear campaign to divert the failures of AIADMK government in the state and BJP government at the Centre. It backfired on them. The DMK is a party that stands for dignity and I stand for it always. But on the contrary, under AIADMK-BJP rule, offences against women have gone sky high. In Pollachi, the lives of more than 250 young girls were ruined and the pathetic voice of the affected girls continues to ring in everybody’s ears. But the Prime Minister, home minister or any other BJP national leader, who come to Tamil Nadu, neither speak about it nor condemn it… DMK would always respect mothers of this land.
You blessed EPS with a long life. He replied saying he didn’t need it. He also said he was a ‘god believer’ while you were not.
I wished him a long life to see for himself the DMK rule after May 2 (counting of votes) and the development that would take place in the state. He ruled the state for four years and undermined its development, dismantled the growth and looted the treasury by borrowing Rs 5.7 lakh crore…
What are your five big promises if your alliance wins?
... The promise of Rs 1,000 per month as rightful assistance to housewives, Rs 4,000 as Covid pandemic cash relief to recover lost livelihood, reduction of the price of petrol by Rs 5 per litre, diesel Rs 3 per litre, milk for Rs 3 per litre and Rs 100 subsidy for LPG cylinder are big promises. DMK would implement all these promises.