Tamil Nadu missed out on central government’s plans because DMK saw BJP as the enemy, says GK Vasan

In 2016, you refused to join the AIADMK alliance after its leader Jayalalitha had asked TMC(M) candidates to contest elections on the ‘two leaves’ symbol. But in 2021 you contested the elections on ‘Two Leaves’. Now, what prompted you to field five candidates from your party on the BJP’s ‘Lotus’ symbol?

TMC (M) revived in 2014 and 2016 was our first assembly election. We joined the Third Front (People’s Welfare Front). We wanted to contest the elections on the ‘Cycle’ election symbol of Moopanar. Unfortunately, I could not get the ‘Cycle’ election symbol in 2016 because there was a case with the Election Commission on behalf of the Panthers Party of Kashmir. Therefore, we were forced to take a new election symbol. Since we are a party that advocates the rights of farmers, we chose ‘Coconut Grove’. Unfortunately, the entire front could not win in 2016. The next election was the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and we were part of the AIADMK-led NDA. Still, we did not get the symbol and we contested one Lok Sabha seat with ‘Auto’. In 2021, we wanted 12 seats, but we got only six seats. Although there was no Election Commission case then, we took a policy decision that if we did not get the minimum 12 seats, we would contest the elections on the symbol of the party with which we have a direct alliance – AIADMK. So, we contested the election on ‘two leaves’. In 2024 (parliamentary elections), we joined the BJP-led NDA, we got three seats and we contested on our ‘cycle’ election symbol. Now again in 2026, we are facing problem in getting our symbol. Since we are in direct alliance with BJP, we have decided to contest the elections on ‘Kamal’. If I do not take the ‘lotus’ election symbol this time and have to take my own election symbol, then I will get either ‘chair’, ‘table’, ‘cricket ball’ or ‘hockey stick’, which we cannot take to the voters in such a short time.

If your candidates are elected on the ‘Lotus’ symbol, they technically become members of the BJP. Will this not impact TMC(M)’s growth and long-term prospects of achieving ECI recognition?

That is not a technical point. He is a member of the TMC (M) party, and he is our MLA. When there is a whip (by BJP), it has to be followed. This is not a new rule for TMC(M) alone. Across the country, as per Election Commission norms, it is the rule for all parties who choose to contest elections on the symbol of another party.

The question was not just in the context of voting in the assembly. Normally, while representing one’s own party in the Assembly, won’t it make any difference if I contest elections on the election symbol of another party?

There is nothing to hide. We are always comfortable with our symbol. When my party is unable to achieve this as per the Election Commission rules, I will have to win the election and show my strength. I have to move on to the next option immediately. I have not joined any party with which I do not have an alliance. I am close to BJP. I have supported him in all the bills in Delhi (Parliament). I am a trusted ally of BJP in Tamil Nadu. I have been going with him without any interruption for these seven or eight years. I think ‘Two Leaves’ and ‘Lotus’ are double engines in Tamil Nadu.

Your party’s candidates will face two sitting ministers and a minister’s son on another seat. Why were you given tougher constituencies than your other colleagues?

I see it differently. Today, I look at the political situation of DMK and the people differently. The anti-incumbency wave is at its peak. There is more anti-incumbency among the ministers than the typical DMK candidate. The anger against him is even greater. This is because of their corruption and excessive use of power. Even in his ministries he has not performed well. He has not solved the law and order problems in his area. In the name of development they have embezzled money. All this is going to help my candidates against the ministers. We are going to fight this. We have our own strategy to win that way.

DMK front is giving this election the form of Tamil Nadu vs New Delhi. What is your Opinion?

Absolutely wrong. This is an election for the safety of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially women. Developing Tamil Nadu in every way should be the core objective of both the State Government and the Central Government. DMK has been one-sided. When it comes to development they feel that their development is final. Due to vote bank politics they do not want any development from the Centre. it must be double engine Government (Government). The Central and State Governments should work together, hand in hand. People from city to village should benefit.

If you put it this way, wouldn’t it raise the argument that a party opposing the party in power at the Center should not come to power in the states?

no way. Because, as far as the Tamil Nadu government is concerned, they did not see the BJP as an opposition party; They saw it as an enemy party because of vote bank politics. This is a wrong tradition which they followed. He remembered many schemes of the Central Government here. People are angry with him. People want change. Tamil Nadu will never develop with this kind of attitude towards a ruler. They believe that only their sticker should be there, the central government’s sticker should not be there. This is wrong. Sound will come only by clapping with both hands. His attitude is absolutely wrong. Forget about other states. The people of Tamil Nadu are very clear.

Even after breaking away from the Congress in 1996 and forming TMC, your father GK Moopanar was steadfast in his opposition to the BJP. But ever since you revived the party, you have been cordial with the BJP for a long time, traveling with them. Why is there a difference in approach towards BJP between your father and you?

My father died 25 years ago. A lot has changed in politics in these 25 years. There are two sides of the coin in Indian politics after independence. One can be represented by (Jawaharlal) Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The other side is that after (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee’s tenure, this is the era of Narendra Modi. The people of India trust the BJP government under the leadership of Modi. That is why, in this technological era, concretely, the (central) government is coming to power for the third time. No one can fool anyone to get votes. People have rejected the Congress party in almost 90% of the states. So, in the national interest, I feel I am on the right track.

You say TMC(M) is on the right track. However, between 1996 and 2002, the TMC, in its earlier avatar, had achieved considerable electoral success. But your party has failed to win seats. What is the reason?

An honest leader in politics has to accept some things. Whether I win or not, I have to take responsibility. There is no doubt about it. Victory and defeat are common factors in our democracy. This cannot be the reason for losing all the time. It is unfortunate that our alliances were not successful in these four elections. I am also a part of those failed alliances. We could not even get the minimum number of seats among the minimum seats we got.

Do you think there will be any change in this trend in the upcoming elections?

The party with which I am in alliance has achieved success across India for the third time, in which I have also contributed. When it comes to Tamil Nadu, we are slowly trying to assess ourselves politically and gain winning momentum. I am sure this election will be a double engine eye opener for the people of Tamil Nadu Government. I think people now know very well that the relationship between the Center and the state is very important. Prosperous Tamil Nadu and strong India is the need of the hour. We already have a powerful India under the Prime Minister. We need a prosperous Tamil Nadu, which will definitely come from both the Center and the State working together.

Barring the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the contest in Tamil Nadu in the last few elections was mainly between two fronts. Now actor Vijay is entering the fray. How do you view his political entry into Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam?

As a political party leader, I do not want to underestimate any political party in Tamil Nadu. I know how difficult it is these days in public life to run a political party, build a cadre base, meet people, form alliances and get votes. When the situation is like this, new parties like TVK have to be dealt with very carefully. I am confident that NDA under the leadership of AIADMK is a winning alliance in Tamil Nadu. Also, I do not want to give a chance to any other party which is trying to cut into our votes on a large scale and jeopardize our victory. I am sure that we are the winning front and we are the first front. So we deal with all sides with caution, not with overconfidence. I want to carefully plan a strategy to secure the first position and build my voting base accordingly. Let us tell you that DMK and Shri Vijay are fighting for the second position.

But Mr Vijay is repeatedly insisting that this election is between TVK and DMK, and completely ignoring the AIADMK-led alliance…

As far as we are concerned, when we feel that we are the victorious front, we need not worry about the claims of the second and third fronts. It could be between Mr Vijay and DMK; I am not worried about it. I want to keep the mark of my victory very clear. I am cautious that the other two or three fronts will not be able to reach our goal. This is my idea behind the election strategy. If Mr. Vijay says that this election is between TVK and DMK, that is his claim. I am not worried about it. Mr Stalin’s strategy could be Delhi vs Tamil Nadu. My strategy is that AIADMK led NDA is the first front.

Your tenure as Rajya Sabha member ended recently. Is another term a possibility?

I am very happy that I have served the people of Tamil Nadu for three terms in the Rajya Sabha. Eighteen years is not a short time. I was a Union Minister for 10 years. I have been a party leader continuously for many years. I am very happy that to the best of my ability, I tried to serve the people to the best of my ability and help my party grow. This is not the end of politics. I was very determined not to give importance to the Rajya Sabha seat, because it should not be the reason for losing my numbers. Last time, because I was given the Rajya Sabha ticket, I got only six seats. Now I want to be careful. Staying in Rajya Sabha was secondary for me. The first priority was to secure more seats for our party.