You are assuming the post of Speaker at a time when the ruling TVK does not have an independent majority in the House and the opposition is also numerically strong. How do you propose to conduct your role?
It is by the grace of God that Sri Vijay has won. Our leaders are going to prove their majority on Wednesday. So I don’t see any challenge.
Although you have considerable legislative experience, most members are first-time MLAs and have limited experience of assembly procedures and rules. Do you see any challenges on this front? Will you organize an orientation for them?
Yes. Soon there will be an orientation program for the MLAs for the first time. I am sure all the youngsters will learn very easily. They are very smart and whenever we talk to them they understand. They understand the processes. This is not difficult for us. They will definitely perform better than you expect.
What is your advice to first-time MLAs?
He should go to the (Assembly) library and read. Whatever procedure is there in the Assembly, it will have to be followed. They should come to the assembly on time, sit till the end and listen to the speakers. When the opposition attacks any leader or speaks against the ruling party, they should not be violent.
Your first major responsibility as Speaker will be to oversee the floor test on Wednesday….
The proceedings will be conducted smoothly and exceeding expectations.
With you taking charge, the 47 AIADMK MLAs seem to be deeply divided over the election of their legislature party leader…
Yes. One team led by (AIADMK general secretary) Edappadi.K. Palaniswami and another team headed by (rebel) SP Velumani, both have given me separate letters.
How many MLAs are supporting each group?
The letters are on the speaker’s table. But being the president, I cannot give you any more information right now.
What kind of decision can we expect on those letters?
I can’t say anything about this right now because the floor test is scheduled.
Is there any change in your mind regarding the conduct of House proceedings?
No, we will continue to follow the same assembly traditions and procedures.
There has been a demand for live telecast of the assembly proceedings for a long time. Would you be willing to consider such a step?
We will hold a meeting of all legislative party leaders and then take a decision on this.
The presentation of Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the third song during the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister and his cabinet has sparked controversy…
The Minister (Aadhav Arjun) has already given a detailed explanation of this.
But in previous instances, the then Governor RN Ravi had insisted on presenting the national anthem at the beginning of the assembly proceedings during the Governor’s address. Which convention will you follow now?
We will have to wait and see. We have not taken any decision on that yet. A decision will be taken soon. We will take the decision before the Governor’s address.
From being an MLA representing AIADMK to now being elected on TVK ticket and becoming the President, how do you look at your political journey?
I have been in politics since 1972. I joined AIADMK when I was a student at Loyola College. Being the Secretary of Loyola College Students Union, I met Puratchi Thalaivar MGR (MG Ramachandran) in 1973 with the request that I was going to start a midday meal scheme for 16 poor boys in Loyola College. He asked me, “Have I come to college to study and why am I raising this matter?” I said, when I’m the secretary of the student union and 16 people ask me to lunch, do you think I’ll study or sleep? He looked at me curiously and said to KA Krishnasamy (AIADMK frontline leader), “Look at him. He has a very good future.” He said that this is a very good initiative and he will fund it. I told MGR that I had come only to invite him to a Star Night event, through which I could raise some money. He said that he would give Rs 10,000 and would also come to the function. This was the day when Puratchi Thalaivar recognized me and prepared me for politics. I became the councilor of Ambattur in 1978. I became MLA in 1980, when it was the toughest election for AIADMK, because Madam Gandhi (Indira Gandhi) had dissolved the government without any reason at the behest of Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi). Kalaignar and Madam Gandhi won 37 seats in the Parliament elections in 1980. MGR went to the public and asked, “What mistake or harm have I done? Why should they dissolve my government?” I won the election. I was the district secretary for 17 constituencies in Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu. Later, he made me the secretary of the state youth wing in 1985. From then till his demise, I held this position. When Madam (J. Jayalalithaa) took over (the reins of the party), I had very good relations with her, and she depended on my services to the party at every level. We used to sit and discuss matters related to the Executive Committee and the General Council. In fact, the tickets for the 1989 parliamentary elections were decided by Madam and me. When Kalaignar was the Chief Minister, he took me into confidence and discussed with me at every stage of his tenure. Then in 1990, due to some unknown reasons, I was deprived of his grace. I am S. Thirunavukkarasu was removed along with KKSSR Ramachandran, Karuppasamy Pandian, SD Ugamchand and Tiruppur Manimaran, who had supported him. One fine morning we were dropped off. Then I never joined any other party. Actually, Kalaignar had sent a messenger. The morning the eviction was announced in the newspapers, Madurai Mayor Patturajan came to my house. He said, “I am coming from Kalaignar’s house.” Kalaignar wanted me to join DMK from the list of expelled people. But that day, my wife and I discussed it and decided not to do any further politics. When madam could keep me so close and suddenly remove me, without even asking what was happening, I decided not to join any political party. For five years I concentrated only on sports. In 1996, Mr. Moopanar (Congress leader and TMC founder G.K. Moopanar) came to Ambattur for a wedding and asked me what I was doing. I said that I am not into politics and am concentrating on sports activities like chess and table tennis. He said I was a young man with a bright future and asked me to come and meet him. When I met him, it was Congress in the morning and Tamil Manila Congress in the evening. He made me his political secretary. He treated me very well. Then, after his demise, I was not very happy with the way they all joined the Congress. I did not involve myself in politics for some years. Then, in 2008, I again joined AIADMK. She (Jayalalitha) made me the Deputy Secretary of the Minority Wing. Then he gave me the MLA ticket to contest from Villivakkam in 2011, when I defeated a great DMK leader, Professor K. Anbazgan was defeated. Later he made me the chairman of CIDCO. I served for three years. They made me contest against (former chief minister) MK Stalin in 2016. That was not a fruitful choice. Later, after his demise, I was in the 11-member steering committee of AIADMK. I was the spokesperson of AIADMK. But then, when Mr. OPS (O. Panneerselvam) was unceremoniously removed from the post of coordinator, there was a split. I opposed it. I joined Mr. OPS. But I was not very comfortable. He is a good person, but he lacked leadership qualities. So, I waited. I found leadership qualities in Shri Vijay (Chief Minister), which I liked. The way he conducted himself, dealt with the party cadre and ran Makkal Iyakkam long before he came to power…whatever he did for the people attracted me. I felt that people were longing for a leader like MGR for a long time. I found that he was the right person. I joined his party. And by the grace of God, they gave me a seat in Thousand Lights. I won with a majority of 15,000 votes. It wasn’t for me. It was only for him because people wanted change. People wanted Mr. Vijay to become the Chief Minister. That’s why they voted and that’s how I won. Now they have recognized me (to become the president) because only a few members were experienced. (Senior leader) Mr. Sengottaiyan chose to become a minister. Then my leader said that I should become the president. I agreed. I am very happy that people are with our leader. He wants to do good to the people. On the very first day he met all the opposition leaders. He wants to give a clean government.
