Asking allies to contest on principal party’s symbol is wrong: P. Shanmugam

The upcoming Assembly polls successful Tamil Nadu summation value because, isolated from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, histrion Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has entered the fray. He is gaining overwhelming enactment connected the ground. In specified a situation, what is your main plank erstwhile you spell to look the electorate?

I don’t judge adjacent an iota of what you are saying astir Vijay having overwhelming enactment connected the ground. I don’t measure the assemblage arsenic 1 that wants a governmental alteration oregon that a caller person should travel to power. The assemblage is coming due to the fact that the histrion they saw connected surface is coming to the thoroughfare for the archetypal time. I don’t judge that the assemblage volition person into votes. Even my appraisal could beryllium wrong. We tin travel to a decision astir that aft May 4 [date of declaration of results]. While helium volition get a definite percent of votes, determination is nary accidental of him winning adjacent a azygous seat, including the seats wherever Mr. Vijay contests.

There is ever a conception of radical successful Tamil Nadu who bash not similar some the DMK and the AIADMK. Mr. Seeman got their votes successful the past election. Mr. Vijay mightiness get them this time. Other than that, determination are nary possibilities of his governmental introduction having a important interaction connected the predetermination results.

As acold arsenic we are concerned, this upcoming 2026 Assembly predetermination is simply a combat betwixt secular forces and communal forces. The crushed wherefore the Communist Party of India (Marxist) decided to enactment firmly with the DMK-led alliance, adjacent though we are not satisfied with the fig of seats allocated to us, is the sole volition that the BJP should not triumph adjacent a azygous seat. We are facing this predetermination connected the ground that allowing the BJP to get a foothold successful Tamil Nadu volition origin a huge, long-lasting impact.

But isn’t the concern present specified that Mr. Vijay has much power than Rajinikanth oregon Kamal Haasan, oregon different actors who entered authorities earlier him?

Last time, Mr. Kamal Haasan contested successful the Coimbatore South constituency. The inclination indicated that helium would win. In the end, Vanathi Srinivasan [BJP] won by a constrictive margin. Last time, Makkal Needhi Maiam got much than 4% of the votes. Similarly, earlier that, erstwhile Mr. Vijayakant started his enactment [DMDK], determination was a immense crowd. After a definite period, that enactment is present conscionable 1 among different governmental parties, but not an alternate unit to the DMK and AIADMK. What alternate argumentation does Mr. Vijay propose? In these 2 years, has helium said thing astir what his alternate policies are? Apart from saying that the DMK is an evil unit and should beryllium eradicated, has helium specifically said thing else? Just due to the fact that radical travel to spot him retired of enthusiasm, we cannot accidental helium would bring astir a change.

What bash you deliberation are the favourable aspects for the DMK-led confederation successful this election?

First, this is simply a beardown alliance. In the past of Tamil Nadu politics, determination has ne'er been specified a mega alliance. Second, the payment schemes implemented by the DMK authorities successful the past 5 years. There is nary household successful the State that has not been benefitted by the DMK government’s schemes. It has reached each household. Third, the DMK’s uncompromising presumption against the BJP since the DMK was formed. From a signifier wherever they would constitute letters and contented condemnation statements, successful these 5 years they person launched a combat against fiscal discrimination, deprivation of State rights, and the arrogance of Governors. Even though they are the ruling enactment successful the State, they person fought directly. Their predetermination manifesto besides reflects that the conflict volition continue, and its accent is connected Centre-State relations, State rights, and secularism.

The DMK’s predetermination manifesto for the 2026 elections is precise important. They accidental they person fulfilled astir 90% of the canvass promises fixed past time. The CPI (M) has exerted unit connected the ruling enactment successful getting galore demands fulfilled, beryllium it matters related to authorities employees’ and teachers’ pensions oregon issues of energy committee and transport section workers, and assorted farmer-related issues. Even though we are an confederation partner, we person exerted arsenic overmuch unit arsenic imaginable and made them fulfill immoderate of them. Therefore, it has created a content that they volition fulfill the canvass promises. I judge the canvass promises fixed for 2026 besides bespeak what is practically possible, considering the State government’s finances and different aspects.

Your enactment has been allocated 5 seats. Some different allies got much seats. What are your triumph prospects successful these 5 constituencies? Because you had immoderate regrets and hesitations initially...

We were of the sentiment that the six seats allocated past clip itself was a precise debased number. That’s wherefore an statement was not reached until the end. Finally, the past wide caput of the party, Sitaram Yechury, came present and spoke with them [the DMK]. Because determination was adjacent sharing backmost past among CPI(M), CPI, VCK, and MDMK, we yet accepted it lone based connected the proposal of our all-India leadership. That’s wherefore I mentioned the aforesaid during the negotiations this time.

This time, successful the archetypal circular of talks itself, I mentioned that adjacent six was debased past time, and present you are asking america to trim it to five. There is nary justice. But they said that immoderate caller parties person joined the confederation and a concern has arisen to guarantee 100% victory. Our confederation has go stronger. So they said they person to trim their seats and asked confederation partners besides to bash so. In that manner, a prolonged dialog took spot betwixt america and the DMK. Apart from the dialog committee, we met the Chief Minister straight doubly and discussed. He requested america to judge 5 seats and cooperate, saying that if immoderate different benignant of difficulties originate successful this, it volition beryllium a immense detriment to the functioning of the full alliance.

We cannot question the confederation leader’s determination to allot much seats to different confederation partners.

As acold arsenic we are concerned, defeating the BJP-AIADMK confederation is the CPI (M)’s governmental resolution. That is not a solution we took for the DMK. So, to springiness applicable signifier to that resolution, successful today’s governmental situation, it is practically imaginable lone done the DMK-led alliance. In that sense, we came to the determination to judge it, adjacent if the fig of constituencies is fewer, based wholly connected our governmental resolution.

That’s why, connected the precise time the statement was signed, I said we were not satisfied. We tin recognize that they could not springiness much seats. But our enactment cadres couldn’t judge the simplification of 1 spot from the past election.

You person seen galore Chief Ministers successful Tamil Nadu successful your governmental career. Among them, however bash you measure the incumbent Chief Minister M.K. Stalin?

As acold arsenic Mr. Stalin is concerned, helium is ever accessible. He listens to each the issues we raise. Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi] would ace jokes, discuss, and debate. Sometimes, by making a witty remark, helium would brushwood speech immoderate issues oregon demands we raised. Mr. Stalin doesn’t person that benignant of approach. Otherwise, immoderate demands we instrumentality up, Mr. Stalin listens to them patiently. He says helium volition sermon them with the officials and spot what tin beryllium done. He has a affable approach.

Regarding commercialized unions and enacting labour-related laws, what is your sentiment astir the DMK government?

When a instrumentality was brought successful to alteration moving hours, I consciousness that the officials wrongly guided the Chief Minister. But helium is the 1 who has to clarify that. That’s why, arsenic soon arsenic we opposed it, the authorities instantly decided to retreat it. It doesn’t look similar the authorities made that determination aft discussing it with everyone.

In Tamil Nadu, some CPI and CPI(M) are being treated equally. Separate negotiations are held with some parties, and spot allocation happens. Now some of you person an ideological agreement. In this situation, is determination a accidental that you and CPI volition negociate unneurotic adjacent time?

Until 2011, spot allocation was done successful a antithetic mode successful presumption of the fig of seats for CPI and CPI(M). Probably for the archetypal time, Ms. Jayalalithaa allocated 8 seats each. In the party’s history, this is the archetypal clip we are contesting with a precise tiny fig of seats. That is the important crushed wherefore determination was terrible dissatisfaction and choler among the enactment cadres. But the 2 parties going unneurotic and negotiating with different enactment is practically not possible. They excessively won’t judge it.

Generally, the radical of Tamil Nadu cognize the spot of CPI(M) and CPI successful Tamil Nadu, and they [the DMK] besides cognize it. We person taken a governmental determination to articulation an confederation and we instrumentality to it. We don’t bargain by saying we volition articulation different alliance, similar others do. I don’t cognize if they are taking it arsenic a weakness. I person realised that a solution to each specified problems tin beryllium recovered lone by expanding our ain strength.

In Kerala, determination is simply a pugnacious contention betwixt the CPI(M) and the Congress. But you are allies here. Is determination immoderate contradiction successful this approach?

We instrumentality a governmental enactment according to the governmental situation and needs of the respective State. Here, our seat-sharing statement is with the DMK and not with the Congress. In Kerala, the contention is chiefly betwixt the LDF and the UDF. Since that confederation enactment has been portion of Kerala authorities for a agelong time, people we are successful a presumption to reason the Congress. At the aforesaid time, astatine the nationalist level, successful opposing the National Democratic Alliance, we each person to basal unneurotic and fight.

You had openly expressed your dissatisfaction implicit being allocated lone 5 seats. Similarly, Kamal Haasan’s enactment has decided not to contest. Will this bespeak successful immoderate mode connected the coordination astatine the grassroots level successful the DMK-led alliance?

When a governmental enactment has its ain abstracted symbol, asking them to contention connected the awesome of the person of the confederation is wrong. It was Ms. Jayalalithaa who started the trend. Now, everyone has started practicing this adjacent astatine the nationalist level. A awesome is an identity. Kamal Haasan’s presumption that destroying specified an individuality is unacceptable, is perfectly right. The DMK should person paid heed to their tenable demand. It was they [the DMK] who brought him into the alliance.

As acold arsenic CPI (M) is concerned, the issues that arose during spot sharing dialog were not new. It happens successful each election. But erstwhile we finalise the spot sharing, we permission them down and our cadres volition ever enactment for the triumph of the alliance. Just due to the fact that we bash not get the fig of seats oregon the seats we expected, it won’t bespeak negatively connected the predetermination work. Our workers are not trained successful specified a manner.

Forming an confederation during an predetermination is antithetic from being portion of an confederation each the time. In a concern of being successful an confederation continuously, adjacent extracurricular electioneering, however would you beryllium capable to criticise authorities policies?

The cardinal crushed for this prolonged travel with the DMK is that the BJP continues to beryllium the ruling enactment astatine the Centre. So, we person to reason it some ideologically and politically. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK has been a important spouse supporting america successful that conflict truthful far. In that situation, a compulsion has arisen for this confederation to continue. This is astir apt the archetypal clip an confederation is continuing for 7 oregon 8 years.

But we person ne'er compromised connected the halfway issues we basal for. Take the Samsung issue. You cannot travel crossed specified a prolonged conflict against a multinational institution successful immoderate different State successful India. Conducting a 36-day onslaught against an MNC institution is simply a large achievement. We approached the courts. We resorted to protests. We utilized governmental influence. Be it matters similar opposing the authorities to alteration moving hours oregon warring crimes committed against Scheduled Castes, we ne'er refrained from expressing our voice. We person conducted a beardown agitation against caste-based killings. We insisted connected enacting abstracted authorities against caste-based killings. Neither the DMK nor the AIADMK person immoderate statement connected it. In 2015 itself, A. Soundararajan, the past level person of the CPI(M) introduced a backstage member’s Bill connected this taxable successful the Assembly. But O. Panneerselvam, who was the Finance Minister, claimed successful the Assembly that determination were nary caste-based killings successful Tamil Nadu. Regardless of whether it is an state oregon the opposition, the CPI(M) has been conducting itself successful an uncompromising struggle.

Today, determination is simply a contention among 3 parties [the DMK, the AIADMK, and the TVK] connected who volition denote much freebies. Only Seeman has said truthful acold that this is simply a deception of voters. What is your sentiment regarding freebies?

It depends connected the schemes. For example, we person welcomed the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai due to the fact that neither the men successful the location nor nine recognises the labour of women who bash household chores. So, successful specified a situation, the government, recognising their labour, is giving ₹1,000 a month. Now they person said they volition summation it to ₹2,000. Therefore, it depends connected the schemes. I bash not judge Seeman saying determination shouldn’t beryllium immoderate freebies astatine all. At the aforesaid time, what Mr. Vijay promises of giving 1 sovereign of golden to each kid calved successful the State is practically impossible. Even what the State authorities has announced, to summation the monthly allowance for persons with disabilities, was less. So, it depends connected the scheme. Rejecting it altogether is not right.

You spoke astir that Samsung issue. In this, is it your sentiment that the authorities acted successful favour of the company?

Certainly. I americium not talking astir designation of commercialized union. But registration is thing that should hap people according to the law. There is nary request for the authorities to intervene successful this. If 1 goes and taxable an exertion to the Labour Department, registration of a national should hap naturally. Making this tiny contented into a monolithic struggle, that was discussed globally, was wholly owed to the government’s actions. 

If the authorities had thought, they could person registered it.Whether the institution accepts it oregon not is simply a antithetic matter. The institution mightiness not springiness recognition. But registration is an contented related to the administration. That is precisely what we told the Chief Minister straight backmost then.

How bash you spot the deficiency of authorities successful colleges? It is lone successful Tamil Nadu that determination is nary authorities successful colleges. The governmental sermon is gone from campuses. Should it travel backmost oregon not?

We person been continuously speaking successful favour of students’ national elections. The DMK, which captured powerfulness done pupil movements, look to person nary involvement successful holding pupil assembly elections.

While galore speech astir cause usage successful Tamil Nadu, nary 1 talks astir the interaction of alcoholism. It affects women a lot, particularly successful agrarian areas and tiny towns. Is the gross coming to the authorities a reason?

Is full prohibition of liquor possible? The question is however to modulate liquor sales. There is nary uncertainty that alcoholism has accrued successful Tamil Nadu and that respective families person been affected by it. But our sentiment is that determination is nary applicable anticipation of implementing full prohibition. That volition again pb to illicit liquor. Regarding drugs, it is not thing that tin beryllium stopped successful conscionable 1 State. It is brought present from assorted States. Coordinated enactment by assorted States and the Centre is needed to eradicate it. I bash not deliberation a State authorities unsocial tin halt it.

Another disapproval against the DMK authorities was connected the instrumentality and bid beforehand and custodial deaths. What is your view?

Lock-up deaths should beryllium wholly prevented. We person conducted protests against each lock-up decease and expressed our absorption strongly. It has to commencement close from constabulary training. Appropriate changes should beryllium made successful constabulary grooming itself. There is simply a inclination among constabulary unit to behave without respect for quality rights oregon the cardinal rights the Constitution has guaranteed. In specified matters, the Tamil Nadu authorities has to instrumentality enactment without hold against constabulary unit who are progressive successful specified crimes. Police unit indispensable beryllium trained to respect quality rights. There is nary spot for 3rd grade attraction erstwhile dealing with criminals successful modern times.

In Chennai, the improvement is concentrated connected the confederate parts, portion determination is simply a question of maturation stagnation successful northbound Chennai. How to code this?

Balanced improvement should beryllium the argumentation of the government. Those who put superior similar to utilise the already existing infrastructure. We explicit our absorption erstwhile onshore is acquired for industries successful galore places. Development connected 1 broadside and the government’s deficiency of interest connected the different is the crushed reality. Instead of concentrated factories astir Chennai, they should beryllium distributed crossed the State.