Tamil Nadu missed out on Central government schemes because DMK saw BJP as an enemy, says G.K. Vasan

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

TMC (M) was revived in 2014, and 2016 was our first Assembly election. We joined the third front [People’s Welfare Front]. We wanted to contest on Moopanar’s ‘Cycle’ symbol. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the ‘Cycle’ symbol in 2016 because there was an Election Commission case from the Panthers Party of Kashmir. So, we were forced to get a new symbol. Since we are a party that champions farmers’ rights, we chose ‘Coconut Grove’. Unfortunately, the entire front was not able to win in 2016.

The next election was the 2019 Lok Sabha election, and we were part of the NDA led by the AIADMK. Even then, we did not get the symbol and contested on ‘Auto’ in one Lok Sabha seat. In 2021, we wanted 12 seats, but we got only six. Even though there was no Election Commission case then, we took a policy decision that if we did not get a minimum of 12 seats, we would contest on the symbol of the party with which we are in direct alliance—the AIADMK. So, we contested on ‘Two Leaves’.

In 2024 [parliamentary polls], we joined the BJP-led NDA, got three seats, and contested on our own ‘Cycle’ symbol. Now, again in 2026, there is a problem in getting our symbol. Since we are in direct alliance with the BJP, we have decided to contest on ‘Lotus’. If I do not take the ‘Lotus’ symbol this time and have to go for my own symbol, I would get either ‘Chair’, ‘Table’, ‘Cricket Ball’, or ‘Hockey Stick’, which we cannot take to the voters in a short time.

If your candidates get elected on the ‘Lotus’ symbol, they technically become members of the BJP. Wouldn’t this impair the TMC (M)’s growth and long-term prospects of getting ECI recognition?

That is not the technical point. They are members of the TMC (M) party, and they are our MLAs. When there is a whip [by the BJP], it has to be followed. It is not a new rule for TMC (M) alone. Throughout the country, it is the rule for all parties that choose to contest on the symbol of another party, as per the Election Commission norms.

The question was not only in the context of voting in the Assembly. In general, representing your party in the Assembly, while contesting on another party’s symbol, won’t that make a difference?

There is nothing to hide. We are always comfortable with our own symbol. When my party is unable to get it as per the Election Commission rules, I have to win the election and show my strength. I have to move to the immediate next option. I did not go to any party with which I am not in alliance. I am in close track with the BJP. I have supported them in all the Bills in Delhi [parliament]. I am a confident ally of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. I have been going with them without any break over these seven or eight years. I feel ‘Two Leaves’ and ‘Lotus’ are double engines in Tamil Nadu.

Your party candidates will face off with two sitting Ministers and the son of a Minister in another seat. Why were you given tougher constituencies than your other allies?

I see it the other way. Today, I see the political situation with the DMK and the people differently. Anti-incumbency is at its peak. More than a normal DMK candidate, ministers have higher anti-incumbency. The anger against them is even greater. That is because of their corruption and over use of power. Even in their own ministries, they have not performed properly. They have not addressed the law and order problems in their own areas. In the name of development, they have swindled money. All this is going to help my candidates against the ministers. We are going to fight it out. We have our own strategy to win that way.

The DMK front is framing this election as Tamil Nadu vs New Delhi. What’s your view?

Absolutely wrong. This is an election for the safety of the people of Tamil Nadu, especially women. Development of Tamil Nadu in all ways by both the State government and the Central government should be the core. The DMK has been one-sided. When it comes to development, they think their development is final. They don’t want any development from the Centre because of vote bank politics. It should be a double-engine sarkar (government). The Central and State governments should work together, hand in hand. People should benefit from towns to villages.

If you pitch it that way, won’t that raise the argument that a party opposed to the party in power at the Centre should not come to power in the States?

Not at all. 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. That is a wrong precedent they followed. They missed a lot of Central government schemes here. People are angry with them. People want a change. This kind of attitude for a ruler will never develop Tamil Nadu. They think only their sticker should be there and that the Central government’s sticker should not be here. That is wrong. Sound will come only if we clap both hands. Their attitude is totally wrong. Forget about other States. The people of Tamil Nadu are very clear.

Even after separating from the Congress and floating the TMC in 1996, your father G.K. Moopanar was steadfast in his opposition to the BJP. But since you revived the party, you have been amicable with the BJP, travelling with them for a long time. Why is there a difference in approach between your father and you towards the BJP?

My father died 25 years ago. In these 25 years, a lot of dynamics in politics has changed. There are two sides to the coin in Indian politics after Independence. One can be represented by [Jawaharlal] Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi. The other side is now, after [Atal Bihari] Vajpayee’s stint, it is Narendra Modi’s era. The people of India believe in the BJP government under Modi’s leadership. That is why, solidly, for the third time, a [central] government is coming to power in this technological era. Nobody can fool anyone into getting votes. In around 90% of the States, people have rejected the Congress party. Therefore, in the interest of the nation, I think I am on the right track.

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

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

Do you think there will be a change in this trend in the upcoming election?

The same party with which I am in alliance has been able to score across India for the third time, to which my contribution is also there. When it comes to Tamil Nadu, we are slowly trying to assess ourselves politically and gain a winning momentum. I am sure this election will be an eye-opener for the people of Tamil Nadu for a double-engine sarkar. I think people have now learnt well that the relationship between the Centre and the State is very important. A prosperous Tamil Nadu and a 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 through the tandem working of both the Centre and the State.

Barring the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the contest in Tamil Nadu was largely between two fronts in the last few elections. Now, actor Vijay is entering the fray. How do you see his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s political entry?

As a leader of a political party, 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, have a cadre base, meet people, build alliances, and get votes. When the situation is like this, new parties like TVK have to be dealt with very carefully. I am very confident that the NDA in Tamil Nadu, under the AIADMK leadership, is a winning alliance.

At the same time, I do not want to give room to any other party trying to cut our votes to a large extent and threaten our victory. I am sure we are the winning front and we are the first front. So we deal with all parties carefully, not with overconfidence. I want to carefully plan a strategy to secure the first position and accordingly build the voting base for me. Let the DMK and Mr. Vijay fight for the second position.

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

As far as we are concerned, when we feel we are the winning front, we need not bother about the second and third fronts’ claims. It can be between Mr. Vijay and the DMK; I am not bothered about it. I want to keep our winning mark very clear. I am careful about the other two or three fronts not reaching our mark. That is my idea behind the election strategy. If Mr. Vijay says this election is between the TVK and the DMK, it is his claim. I am not worried about it. Mr. Stalin’s strategy may be Delhi vs Tamil Nadu. My strategy is that the AIADMK-led NDA is the first front.

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

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 continuously a party leader for several years. I am very happy that, with all the capacity I had, I tried to serve the people to the best of my ability and help my party grow.

It is not the end of politics. I was very particular not to give importance to a Rajya Sabha seat, because it should not be the reason for losing my numbers. Last time, because I was given a Rajya Sabha ticket, I got only six seats. Now I want to be careful. Being in the Rajya Sabha was secondary for me. The first priority was to secure more seats for my party.