Speaking to The Hindu, Chennai Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) president GK Vasan said the people of Tamil Nadu are upset as the state has missed out on several plans due to the DMK government’s treatment of the ruling BJP as an “enemy”. Expressing his belief that the AIADMK-led NDA, of which his party is a part, is a “winning front” in the upcoming assembly elections, he said the DMK and actor C Joseph Vijay’s TVK could fight for the “second position”. Edited excerpts
In 2016, you refused to join the AIADMK alliance because its leader Jayalalithaa asked TMC (M) candidates to contest on the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol. But in 2021, you competed in “Two Leaves”. What made you field your party’s five candidates on the ‘Lotus’ symbol of the BJP?
The TMC (M) was revived in 2014 and 2016 saw our first assembly elections. We joined the third front (Front for People’s Welfare). We wanted to compete for Moopanar’s ‘Cycle’ symbol. Unfortunately, I could not get the ‘Cycle’ symbol in 2016 because of the election commission case by the Panthers Party of Kashmir. So we were forced to get a new symbol. Since we are a party that defends the rights of farmers, we chose ‘Coconut Grove’. Unfortunately, the entire front failed to win in 2016. The next election was the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and we were part of the AIADMK-led NDA. Even then we did not win the symbol and contested on ‘Auto’ in one Lok Sabha seat. We wanted 12 seats in 2021, but we only got six. Even though there was no election commission case then, we took a political decision that if we don’t win at least 12 seats, we will fight on the symbol of the party with which we are in direct alliance – AIADMK. So we competed on ‘Two Leaves’. In 2024 (parliamentary polls), we joined the BJP-led NDA, won three seats and contested on our own symbol ‘Cycle’. Now, again in 2026, the problem is to get our symbol. Since we are in direct alliance with BJP, we have decided to contest on ‘Lotus’. If I don’t take the ‘Lotus’ symbol this time and have to go for my own symbol, I’ll either get a ‘Chair’, ‘Table’, ‘Cricket Ball’ or ‘Hockey Stick’ which we can’t hand over to the voters at short notice.
If your candidates are elected on the ‘Lotus’ symbol, they will technically become BJP members. Wouldn’t this hamper the growth of TMC (M) and the long term prospects of getting ECI recognition?
This is not a technical point. They are members of the TMC (M) party and they are our MLAs. When there is a whip (from BJP), it must be followed. It is not a new rule for TMC (M) only. It is a rule across the country for all parties to choose to contest on the symbol of another party as per the norms of the Election Commission.
The question was not only related to voting in the assembly. Generally speaking, representing your party in the House while competing for another party’s symbol won’t make a difference?
There is nothing to hide. We are always comfortable with our own symbol. When my party can’t get it according to the election commission rules, I have to win the election and show my strength. I have to move on to the next option immediately. I didn’t go to any side I’m not in alliance with. I am closely aligned with BJP. I supported them in all the laws in Delhi (Parliament). I am a confident ally of BJP in Tamil Nadu. For the past seven or eight years, I have been going with them non-stop. I feel ‘Two Leaves’ and ‘Lotus’ are twin engines in Tamil Nadu.
Your party candidates will face two sitting ministers and a minister’s son in another seat. Why did you get tougher constituencies than your other allies?
I see it differently. Today I see the political situation with DMK and people differently. Anti-incumbency is at its peak. More than a regular DMK candidate, ministers have a higher anti-function. The anger towards them is even greater. It is because of their corruption and excessive use of power. Even in their own ministries they did not function properly. They did not solve the law and order problems in their own areas. They cheated money in the name of development. All this will help my candidates against the ministers. We’re going to fight it out. We have our own strategy to win this way.
The DMK front is framing this election as Tamil Nadu vs New Delhi. What is your opinion?
Absolutely wrong. This is an election for the safety of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially women. The core should be development of Tamil Nadu in all ways both by state government and central government. DMK was one sided. When it comes to evolution, they think their evolution is finite. They don’t want any development from the Center because of vote bank politics. It should be a twin engine sarkar (government). Central and state governments should work hand in hand. People should benefit from cities to villages.
When you put it this way, doesn’t it raise the argument that a party that is opposed to the party in power at the Center should not come to power in the States?
not at all. Because, as far as the Tamil Nadu government was concerned, they did not see the BJP as an opposition party; they saw it as an enemy party because of vote bank politics. That’s a bad precedent they followed. They missed many central government programs here. People get mad at them. People want change. This kind of attitude of a ruler will never develop Tamil Nadu. They think that only their label should be there and that the central government’s label should not be there. That’s wrong. The sound will only be heard if we clap both hands. Their attitude is absolutely wrong. Forget about other states. The people of Tamil Nadu are clear.
Even after breaking away from the Congress and launching the TMC in 1996, your father GK Moopanar was steadfast in his opposition to the BJP. But ever since you revived the party, you have been friendly with the BJP and have been traveling with them for a long time. Why is there a difference in attitude towards BJP between your father and you?
My father died 25 years ago. A lot of dynamics have changed in politics in those 25 years. There are two sides to the coin in post-independence Indian politics. One can be represented by (Jawaharlal) Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The other side is now, after the tenure of (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee, it is the era of Narendra Modi. The people of India have faith in the BJP government under Modi’s leadership. Therefore, in this technological era, solidly, for the third time, the (central) government comes to power. No one can deceive anyone to get votes. In about 90% of the states people rejected the Congress party. Therefore, for the sake of the nation, I think I am on the right track.
You say TMC (M) is on the right track. However, between 1996 and 2002, the TMC in its first avatar achieved considerable electoral success. But your party was not able to win seats. what is the reason
An honest leader in politics must accept certain things. Whether it’s a win or not, I have to take responsibility. There is no doubt about it. Wins and losses are common factors in our democracy. This cannot be the reason for constant losses. It is unfortunate that our alliance has not been successful in all these four elections. I am also part of those failed alliances. We were not able to get the minimum number from the minimum places we were given.
Do you think this trend will change in the upcoming elections?
The same party I am in alliance with has managed to score all over India for the third time for which my contribution is also there. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, we are slowly trying to take political stock and get a winning momentum. I am sure this election will open the eyes of the people of Tamil Nadu to the twin engine sarkar. I think people have now well understood that the relationship between the Center and the State is very important. A prosperous Tamil Nadu and a strong India is the need of the hour. We already have a powerful India under the leadership of the Prime Minister. We need a prosperous Tamil Nadu which will definitely go through the tandem work of both the Center and the State.
Apart from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the contest in Tamil Nadu in the last few elections has been largely between two fronts. Now actor Vijay enters the fray. How do you see the political entry of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam?
As a leader of a political party, I don’t want to underestimate any political party in Tamil Nadu. I know how difficult it is in public life today to run a political party, have a cadre base, meet people, build alliances and win votes. When the situation is like this, new parties like TVK have to be dealt with very carefully. I am very confident that the AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu is a winning alliance. At the same time, I do not want to give space to any other party that is trying to cut our votes to a large extent and threaten our victory. I am sure we are victorious and we are first. So we deal with all parties with caution, not overconfidence. I want to carefully plan a strategy to secure the first position and build a voter base for me accordingly. Let DMK and Mr. Vijay fight for the second seat.
But Mr Vijay has repeatedly claimed that this choice is between TVK and DMK, completely ignoring the AIADMK led alliance…
As for us, when we feel that we are the winning front, we don’t have to worry about the demands of the second and third fronts. It may be between Mr Vijay and DMK; it doesn’t bother me. I want our winning mark to be very clear. I am careful not to let the next two or three queues reach our mark. This is my idea behind the election strategy. If Mr. Vijay says that this election is between TVK and DMK, that is his claim. I’m not worried about that. Mr Stalin’s strategy may be Delhi vs Tamil Nadu. My strategy is that NDA led by AIADMK is the first front.
Your term as a member of the Rajya Sabha has ended recently. Is there a possibility of another term of office?
I am very happy to have served the people of Tamil Nadu for three terms in the Rajya Sabha. Eighteen years is not a short time. I was a Union Minister for 10 years. I have been at the head of the party continuously for several years. I am very glad that I tried my best to serve the people and help my side grow with all the capacity I had. It is not the end of politics. I was very emphatic not to attach importance to the Rajya Sabha seat as that should not be the reason for losing my numbers. Last time, because I got Rajya Sabha ticket, I got only six seats. I want to be careful now. Being in the Rajya Sabha was secondary to me. The first priority was to secure more seats for my party.
