T.N. Assembly election: BJP may try to split the DMK even if it gets a majority, says Thol. Thirumavalavan

The VCK had sought seats successful treble digit and a Rajya Sabha spot from the DMK. Are you blessed with the 8 Assembly seats allotted to you?

We expected astatine slightest 10 seats. Unexpectedly, galore parties joined the alliance, particularly the DMDK and smaller parties. The person of the confederation [the DMK] was compelled to accommodate everyone. Hence, adjacent parties that person been successful the confederation continuously — similar the Left parties, the MDMK, and the Indian Union Muslim League — had to trim their seats. For example, the MDMK has fixed up 2 seats. The Left parties had 6 earlier, arsenic against 5 each now. In specified a situation, the DMK told america that it was consenting to springiness america much seats, but not successful treble digit. Initially, it offered seven, but I sought eight. I did not privation to prolong the negotiations.

Did you get the constituencies you asked for?

Usually, nary enactment gets each the constituencies it asks for. There volition beryllium aggregate parties seeking to contention from a constituency. It has to beryllium fixed to someone, and the others indispensable springiness way. In that sense, we archetypal confirmed 3 constituencies: Kattumannarkoil, Cheyyur, and Thiruporur. Nagapattinam had already been allotted to Jawahirullah, which amazed us. We were told that our party’s lawman wide secretary, Shanavas, had expressed his willingness to contention from different constituency; hence, the spot was fixed to the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi. We got Arakkonam. We asked for Vanur, but didn’t get it; instead, we got Kallakurichi. In the confederate districts, we asked for 2 seats. It was consenting to springiness one: Periyakulam.

When you announced your volition to contention from Kattumannarkoil, you said Tamil Nadu authorities would alteration importantly aft this election. What bash you deliberation volition change?

I wanted to contention the Assembly predetermination since 2021. What we talk and however we relation successful the Assembly has a large impact. A party’s actions successful the Assembly signifier the nationalist perception. Going to Parliament is an honour. However, erstwhile I look astatine Tamil Nadu politics, the BJP’s strategy of gradually weakening determination parties and establishing itself is simply a origin for concern. The Prime Minister refers to the AIADMK-led confederation arsenic the National Democratic Alliance. After the election, the ballot shares of the parties volition beryllium known. Alliances whitethorn change. The BJP whitethorn effort to interruption parties and summation MLAs — arsenic it did successful different States — adjacent if the DMK gets a majority. In specified a situation, I should not stay detached from Tamil Nadu politics. We indispensable stay vigilant 24/7 not conscionable to support our enactment but to safeguard societal justness politics, State rights, and left-democratic authorities successful Tamil Nadu.

In your party, 3 MLAs were denied renomination. Why?

With lone 8 seats, determination were galore successful the enactment anxious to contest. If we get 25 seats, we tin renominate the existent MLAs and springiness an accidental to caller people. But with conscionable 8 seats, we retained four. Nearly 2,050 radical applied for nomination. And astir 370 radical wanted maine to contest. The workers privation opportunities. This is simply a antiauthoritarian reshuffle. There are nary allegations oregon disciplinary reasons against those MLAs. We besides considered practice — community, seniority, and women. This time, we gave 2 seats to women. We person besides accommodated senior-most comrades similar Attral Arasu.

Do you inactive judge the DMK alliance, contempt the inclusion of immoderate caste-based oregon right- leaning groups, tin assertion to beryllium the “ideological opposition” to the NDA?

The inclusion of 1 oregon 2 specified parties does not dilute the alliance’s ideological identity. The Left parties and others firmly reason right-wing politics. Some whitethorn person had past associations [like the Tamilar Desam Party], but they whitethorn evolve. Joining this confederation shows they are not powerfully committed to right-wing ideology.

How bash you presumption the disapproval that the VCK has not efficaciously addressed caste atrocities and custodial deaths nether DMK rule?

A authorities unsocial cannot alteration everything successful 5 years. Officials enactment based connected their ain mindset. Laws exist, but their implementation depends connected individuals. A structural alteration requires time. We person conducted protests, mobilised thousands, met officials, gone to court. But beyond protests, solutions necessitate greater governmental power. Caste and spiritual structures proceed unchanged. The officials’ caste mentality cannot beryllium changed overnight. If an authoritative has an anti-Dalit psyche oregon harbours hatred for Muslims, thing volition change. We person discussed laws against honour-based crimes and preservation successful promotions. The DMK has responded positively. We request to recognize the issues wrong the system... It is not astir AIADMK oregon DMK rule, but my constituent is that bureaucracy has an adjacent work arsenic the government.

How bash you presumption histrion Vijay’s determination not to state with the BJP contempt allegedly facing unit from it?

His determination is welcome. But that unsocial does not mean helium opposes the BJP. He has not criticised the BJP directly. His stance appears temporary, perchance to support his image.

Porkodi, widow of slain BSP person Armstrong, has decided to contention from Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar connected the AIADMK’s ‘Two Leaves’ symbol...

She needs protection. I admit she has boldly travel retired to beryllium successful nationalist life. She besides faces a menace to her life, and she needs immoderate abstraction successful politics. If the AIADMK has fixed her that space, we invited it.