Fissures removed; Stalin has emerged as seasoned leader: Vaiko

After a gap of 11 years, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has decided to work with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and support its candidate N. Marudu Ganesh in the Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar bypoll scheduled on December 21. In an interview with The Hindu , Mr. Vaiko explains the change in his party’s stand. Excerpts:

You were a strong critic of the DMK for over a decade. Why did you decide to work with the DMK in the electoral field after a gap of about 11 years?

The present political scenario in Tamil Nadu is causing much agony and anguish because of the way in which the AIADMK government is functioning. The AIADMK government has totally surrendered before the BJP government in the Centre.

The slogan of State autonomy raised by Arignar Anna [former CM C.N. Annadurai] was carried forward by Kalaignar [former Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi]. But, federalism is under grave threat now because of the BJP government.

The Central government has failed Tamil Nadu not only on the Mullaiperiyar and Cauvery issues but also in the matter of hydrocarbon and methane projects, the fishermen issue and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It has sounded an alarm bell to the Dravidian movement. These issues have led our party to take a decision in the high-level meeting today [Sunday]. The meeting unanimously decided to support the DMK candidate in the R.K. Nagar bypoll.

Will this alliance continue in the future?

This is only a starting point. When he came to know about our decision to support DMK, [DMK working president] Mr. Stalin called me over telephone to thank the MDMK.

The fissures, which existed between the MDMK and the DMK, have been removed now. Our alliance and brotherhood with the DMK would only get cemented further in the future.

How do you see the leadership of DMK working president M.K. Stalin in guiding his party?

Mr. Stalin has been in active politics for over four decades now and he is an experienced leader and has gone through several hardships. He was also in jail under the Maintenance of Internal Securities Act (MISA). Mr. Stalin’s leadership has been very well accepted by the rank and file of the DMK. I would say Mr. Stalin has emerged a seasoned leader and also been functioning as an efficient Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

The Sri Lankan Tamils issue was one of the main reasons cited by the MDMK for parting ways with the DMK. Are the parties on the same page on the issue now?

Every political party is entitled to its own stand on any issue. The DMK has issued statements over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue on various occasions. Mr. Stalin was the first to react when some Sinhalese agents tried to gherao me in the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.

The People’s Welfare Front (PWF), which the MDMK was part of, had disintegrated last year. Is a third political front in Tamil Nadu possible at all?

We had tried to bring together various parties. But, the exercise turned out to be futile.

Some actors have been hinting at their possible entry into politics and some of them have been pretty vocal about their their thoughts and views on the social media. Your comments...

Any qualified voter can contest elections. I don’t want to make any more comment on this.