Making it clear that he did not have much faith in opinion polls, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi claims that his confidence about the DMK’s electoral victory stemmed from the unprecedented turnout of voters at his campaign meetings. He also rejected the suggestion that the people’s lingering dissatisfaction over the DMK rule of 2006-2011 would come in the way of even those who are not prepared to vote for the AIADMK. He says that contrary to that perception, the DMK government had actually secured for Tamil Nadu the third place in the country in socio-economic development. In this interview, he also said a time frame could not be fixed for party treasurer M.K. Stalin’s elevation to the next level in politics and governance. Excerpts from the interview.
During your election campaign in Chennai, you declared that no one could prevent the DMK from coming to power. What is the basis for this confidence?
I do not have great faith in opinion polls. It is true that no ruling party has been elected to office after 1984. I was moved by the love and affection showed by the unprecedented crowd that turned up to witness my election campaign in all places. I could sense that people were highly disappointed with the AIADMK and were desperately looking for a change. The DMK alone can fulfill their aspirations. It convinced me to say that no one could prevent the DMK from coming back to power.
Both the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the People's Welfare Front (PWF) claim to be the alternative to the Dravidian parties. Do you agree?
Anyone can say that they are the alternative to Dravidian parties. There is freedom of expression and no one can prevent them from expressing their opinion. As far as the DMK is concerned, it has become stronger and more formidable than it was in the past. Only the outcome of the election can prove the claim of those projecting themselves as an alternative.
Even those not favourably disposed to the AIADMK seem to have some reservations about supporting the DMK. The trend is attributed to the people’s disenchantment with the DMK rule between 2006 and 2011…
We fulfilled all the promises made in the election manifesto for 2006 and improved the State’s socio-economic conditions and secured for it the third place in the country. I will not agree that people were disenchanted with the highly efficient DMK government. There may be some who are against the AIADMK government, but cannot bring themselves to vote for the DMK. This section actually has a retrograde mindset and does not share the DMK’s goals of promoting the ideals of Periyar, Anna and Ambedkar, and are not interested in ameliorating the living conditions of the poor and the working class. They also do not accept the DMK’s passion for the Tamil language, for Tamils and for Tamil Nadu. Such people have always been around at all times. But the DMK has successfully moved ahead despite such obstacles.
The State is witnessing a multi-cornered contest and political parties that used to be content with being alliance partners of major political parties are now projecting themselves as alternatives. Will it not work against the DMK?
The multi-cornered contest will actually work in favour of the DMK and pave the way for its victory in the elections.
Do you think the present political circumstances will result in a coalition government?
So far, the people of Tamil Nadu have not voted in favour of a coalition government and the present situation is unlikely to make any change in their voting pattern.
In all your campaign speeches, you have special words for party treasurer M.K. Stalin and in the Chennai meeting, you said, “It is a blessing to have a son like him.” When are you going to elevate him to the next level?
There is no doubt that Mr. Stalin will achieve new heights in politics and in governance. A hard worker, he is well qualified for elevation. You know that in politics nothing moves within a set time frame. The dynamics of yesterday’s happenings, today's changes and tomorrow’s developments decide everything. If you look at history, Periyar, Anna or I did not reach the next level in our career by fixing a time frame.
