New Justice Party founder A.C. Shanmugam, who is the candidate of the AIADMK-led alliance for the August 5 Vellore Parliamentary constituency, where polling was cancelled in April last following allegations of attempts to bribe voters, is hopeful that he will emerge victorious. In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Shanmugam explains his plans for the Parliamentary constituency if he is elected. Excerpts:
What are the challenges you are likely to face in Vellore in view of the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections? In Tamil Nadu, the NDA was washed out, but nationally it has returned with a stronger mandate...
The DMK president claimed there would be a change in the Central and State governments after the elections, which did not happen. Also, the National Democratic Alliance outshined its own record in 2014. As a partner in the NDA, I have proximity with the Prime Minister and [Home Minister] Amit Shah ji and I can use that to get various schemes for Vellore. People are with the AIADMK and that is why they voted cleverly in Tamil Nadu.
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In April there were charges of attempt to distribute money to voters on behalf of candidates of both principal alliances — DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu. How do you propose to tackle this taint?
Only after the seizure of money from the DMK candidate did the Election Commission decide to cancel the elections. There were specific labels on the bundles of money. Though there were talks that we should approach the EC seeking his disqualification, we don’t want to do it. Let him contest and let the people decide on who they want to win. As for the video of AIADMK leaders, it surfaced much after the election was cancelled in Vellore.
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In what way do you think the results of the Vellore Parliamentary constituency make a difference to your party/alliance?
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If I win in the elections, it will be a boost to New Justice Party and also to the AIADMK-led alliance, which can send another MP to the Parliament.
In Tamil Nadu the link between education and politics is inseparable. You own many educational institutions. While you speak of social justice as a political ideal, hasn’t commercialisation of education made it inaccessible to the poor and socially backward classes?
You cannot use the word commercialisation because when governments are not providing funds for education, it is the private players who do. To run a medical college, one needs ₹700 crore, excluding non-recurring expenditure. Many are not able to run institutions. You would have known what happened to Mr. Vijayakant’s college...
So, you cannot use the word commercialisation. Just like The Hindu , The Indian Express or Sun TV , this is also business where people have to be paid for their work.
What are your plans for the development of Vellore?
I intend to provide employment opportunities to the youth in the constituency through various Centre and State government schemes. I intend to construct world-class sports facilities in all six Assembly constituencies. We will organise free medical camps for the benefit of the people of Vellore Parliamentary constituency.