One of the seniormost leaders in the Tamil Nadu BJP, L. Ganesan was among those instrumental in the party building a formidable ‘third front’ in the State for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He is also contesting from the Chennai (South) constituency. Excerpts from an interview he gave Sruthisagar Yamunan :
The AIADMK mouthpiece, 'Dr. Namathu MGR', has taken a view that there was no need to criticise Narendra Modi or the BJP as the Congress is responsible for country's state-of-affairs. How do you view this?
What they are saying is quite true. The Congress is responsible for taking the country down the slide. This question of why the BJP is not focusing on the AIADMK or the DMK is also partly answered here. This is a parliament election and our main adversary is the Congress. We will focus on them more. In Tamil Nadu, the two Dravidian parties make even Lok Sabha polls a clash between themselves. We hope to change it this time.
The Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has accused the AIADMK of being the 'B' team of the BJP. Your response to this accusation?
Let me say categorically that the BJP is set to get a majority in the elections as there is a strong Narendra Modi wave. But Mr. Modi has said even if we get a majority, we will invite our allies to be part of the government. Apart from the parties with whom we already have a pact, we will not need the support of more parties. This gives the answer to his accusation.
The DMK chief M. Karunanidhi has said he is ready to back the Congress post-poll if it showed commitment to secularism. How do you view this stand?
This shows that the Congress is the 'B' team of the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The parties are hoodwinking people through a drama that they are no longer in an alliance. This is for the sake of election. Mr. Karunanidhi's comment clearly shows there is a tacit understanding between the two parties.
The TNCC chief B.S. Gnanadesikan says the BJP alliance is a bundle of contradictions. Is it so?
It is unity in diversity. Not all parties can have same ideologies and agendas. For example, we may differ from the manifesto released by the MDMK. But the agenda of helping Mr. Modi become the Prime Minister has united us.
The Congress on the other hand is out of the race in Tamil Nadu even before the elections have begun.
There is a view that BJP sympathisers in Tamil Nadu vote for the AIADMK as they feel the BJP stands no chance of winning on its own. Is it right?
It is true that we faced that difficulty in the past. But now that we have formed a formidable alliance, the front is being treated as an equal to the two Dravidian parties. So we are sure the Modi wave will sweep all the votes in our favour.
