Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2021 | People trust AIADMK government because it has acted on its promises: Vasan

Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar) leader GK Vasan, in an interview, rejected public opinion polls predicting the victory of the DMK-led coalition in the assembly elections. The AIADMK ally, he stressed that people believe that the government has acted on its promises. Edited excerpts:

In the 2016 assembly elections and the last parliamentary election, you were firm that TMC should contest on an independent symbol. Now you have reached an agreement on this and are ready to contest elections on the symbol of ‘two leaves’ of AIADMK. Why?

TMC’s favorite symbol has been ‘Chakra’ [which it first got in 1996]. We are trying hard to get this symbol from the Election Commission of India and the court, but did not succeed. We had to fight till the last minute to get the symbol.

Candidates should not face difficulties because of this, and we do not want to waste our seats and capacity, [for which] We have to move towards the key symbol of the alliance partner so that we [can] Enter the assembly.

During the seat sharing talks, until the last minute you insisted that you want 12 seats. Why did you settle for six?

Not all parties get the seats they want. Ultimately, in a coalition, we have to compromise for a number that is favorable to both parties so that the coalition moves in the right direction towards the election.

Did you explore the possibility of TMC being part of the alternative front?

The AIADMK alliance was clearly not needed at this time from 2019 onwards. TMC was the first party to support the Chief Ministerial candidate. [Edappadi K. Palaniswami] When his name was announced by the Deputy Chief Minister.

What do you think MNM, AMMK and Naam Tamizar Kachi will play in this election?

In the last elections, these parties have recorded some percentage of votes. I am not underestimating them. Their vote share may go up or down slightly.

Therefore, a large effect may not be possible.

How confident are you that the AIADMK-led NDA will win this election?

Today’s coalition is a popular winning coalition. In 10 years of governance, its welfare schemes and development projects have reached people from cities to villages. People believe that the government has done as promised.

All opinion polls have predicted victory for the DMK-led coalition …

The opinion poll is not the final vote, because public opinion keeps changing until people cast their votes.

Opposition parties are accusing AIADMK of being under BJP. Does it have any basis?

Any ruling party has responsibility, which the opposition does not – it makes people accountable for welfare schemes, law and order and receives funding from the central government for various initiatives. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a striking balance with the center, which AIADMK is doing. Unfortunately, this responsibility is not for the DMK, and therefore, it opposes the ruling government and makes such allegations.

What is your primary charge against DMK?

They have not been in power for 10 years. Even before that, he never got enough numbers.

I do not want to accuse them personally. Let people do justice because I am not an AIADMK member, but only a coalition partner.

Fuel and LPG prices have gone up significantly. But BJP leaders say that this will not affect the election …

Price rise is a concern and I know people’s feelings. People will also understand that price rise is a temporary issue, and the government will bring it back to normalcy.

Unfortunately, this is happening during the election, and [we hope] The public will believe in us and vote for us.

In the TMC manifesto, you have promised complete prohibition. But the AIADMK government failed to take steps in this direction.

Every party has its own goal and being in alliance, we cannot give up our goals in our manifesto. Full prohibition is not possible immediately after coming to power. But we want it to be done in a phased manner.

How do you see the administration of the state government after the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa?

After his death, under the leadership of Mr. Palaniswami, the state government did a very good job in the last four years, especially in dealing with the epidemic, resulting in economic crisis and cyclone rehabilitation.

How do you see the overall scenario in the state?

After 10 years of the AIADMK government, I am seeing a lot of enthusiasm in the people to greet the coalition parties.

This shows that anti-incumbency, about which DMK talks after 10 years, is quite low.