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The Rediff Interview/G K Moopanar

'I have every right to say that we are here to form a government and give good governance to the people'

Of late, you have been openly criticising the DMK government. It is sending signals to the people that not everything is all right between you two because the DMK and the TMC fought the election as alliance partners.

Yes, we were alliance partners. When Jayalalitha, a political ally and a partner in the central government criticises her government, everybody questions her correctness in doing so. I agree with that. But we are not part of the state government. Yes, we fought the elections together but they are ruling now and we are sitting in the Opposition. So, what is our role then? We can't say yes to everything they say. We can't say no to everything also. There are other parties like the AIADMK which disagrees with whatever the government says. But we have defined a role for ourselves and we support whenever the government does something good. If there are shortcomings on the part of the government, I feel it is our duty to point it out.

In all your recent public meetings, you are talking about bringing back Kamaraj rule in the state.

Is there anything wrong in me talking like that? What does a political party want? I have every right to say that we are here to form a government and give good governance to the people. Where is the mistake in saying that?

I didn't say it was wrong. Will the TMC be ready to go it alone in the next election?

There is a long way to go for the election. Another two and a half years! But don't we have to prepare ourselves for everything?

If you move away from the DMK and from a third front, won't it be advantageous to Jayalalitha?

Do you think it is only my worry to prevent Jayalalitha from coming to power? Everybody should think and worry about it, not me alone.

A fragmented Opposition is to her advantage.

That is a different matter. We can't discuss about what will happen later. All of us are at cross roads now.

When Sonia Gandhi took over the reigns of the Congress, she called all those who had left the party to come back. Why did you decide not to rejoin the Congress?

It was not my decision, it was my party's decision. I consulted my party cadres and our talks went on for 10 days. Ultimately their decision was to keep the identity of the TMC intact and support the Congress at the Centre when it comes to power.

Why are they reluctant to join the Congress back, after all, all of them are ex-Congressmen?

They prefer to have a separate identity so that they can fight the Dravidian parties better.

Do they feel the Congress' central leadership was neglecting its regional outfits all the time?

Their argument is that the TMC, as a regional political party, has a certain following. If we join the Congress, we will not be able to carry the followers with us. So they said, it is better that we fight alone as a regional party. The role of a regional party is different from that of a national party. You can fight for your state's rights in a better way if you are a regional party, which is very difficult as an all-India party.

Do you expect a third front like the United Front coming to existence again? Or, is it going to be a fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress? Do you expect any single party to get majority at the Centre?

I can't answer his question now. I have said earlier also, all the political parties are at cross-roads. They really do not know in which direction they should move and which will be good for them and what holds for them in future. So, they are not able to decide anything.

You have lots of political experience. Will we have only coalition governments?

I do not know. The TMC is also at cross-roads. We cannot decide anything.

I was asking about the Centre.

The same argument applies for the state, the Centre... everywhere. The situation is such that nobody can take a decision boldly and say, yes, this is the right and final decision. That is why I used the word, cross-roads. I say this openly but other political parties do not say so. They feel small to admit this. I do not feel so. I am willing to accept that the situation is fluid and confusing. I admit that the TMC is at cross-roads. On our future, we cannot take a decision now. We will have to wait and watch the atmosphere carefully and take a decision later on. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. How long will this government continue? You tell me. Do you know that? You are a person from outside, can you tell me?

I admit, I do not know. If it is not Jayalalitha, it is Akali Dal or somebody else who are creating problems. The government is moving from one crisis to another...

If you cannot say how long this government will last, how can we say that?

With your political experience, I thought you would be able to say something.

It has gone beyond the political experiences of all! I admit we are at cross-roads.

When you address people at public meetings, you tell them the truth even though it is bitter. Do they like to hear the truth? Most politicians wear a mask while talking to people.

If you are truthful to the people, they accept it. You don't have to put on a mask while talking to them. They also know what the truth is. They understand politics and politicians. They are not fools. If you are not truthful to them, they will comment later on, see, this fellow is telling lies to us and expects us to believe all that.

Why do you think Sonia Gandhi is not listening to the frequent feelers from the Communist parties to form a government at the Centre?

She knows that the Congress also will face the same kind of instability if it comes to power. The problem is not only for the BJP, but for the Congress also. Why should she take such a responsibility by toppling this government? Okay, if they fall on their own, it is a different matter. I feel what she has decided is correct. At least the BJP has 180 seats. The Congress has only 140 or so.

Many politicians and political parties start talking about toppling an elected government soon after the elections. They say that their aim is to see that the government is toppled as if they have no other agenda.

Yes, many say that. But I feel you should fight it out only when the poll comes. But what can you do when the members of the ruling party themselves are turning against them? Can you say that the BJP has a clear mandate? That is why we have all these problems.

Yes, the BJP does not have a clear mandate. But when some political parties are talking all the time about toppling the government, will it not affect the economy of the country and its development?

I agree that this kind of instability will affect the country badly. But tell me, who is creating this instability? Not the opposition parties but their own partners. There is no meaning in the BJP's argument that they have a majority. You hear only 'we will withdraw, if you don't...' kind of slogans from its partners.

Do you think the BJP government has done any good work in the past few months?

As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, they tried to find a solution to the Cauvery problem. I congratulate them for doing a good work. They announced the other day to make all the 19 languages as national languages. About the Sethusamudram project also, they have announced a decision. That is also good. I congratulate them for all this.

In your Tirunelveli meeting, P Chidambaram said it was you who persuaded the chief minister to attend the Cauvery talks. Is it true?

Everybody persuaded him. As a chief minister, how can he say, yes, I am going when other parties did not want him to attend. That was why we convened a meeting then.

Which do you find difficult, going to various states to solve their problems or running a regional party?

This (running a regional party) is a very difficult job, very heavy responsibility. There, the leadership at the top level took the decisions and you had to only carry it out. So, one had the responsibility to only implement the decisions taken by the leader. I might have been a part of the decision-making body but the decision was not mine alone. Here I have to think and take a decision on everything. You are answerable to everyone also.

Do you find it very tough?

Very, very rough.

How do you relax after a tough day's work?

When you understand the circumstances and take a decision, you will automatically feel relieved. Only when you are undecided, you are tense.

Do you mediate or listen to music?

I listen to music whenever I am free. Then I follow sports on television, mainly tennis and cricket, which also relaxes me. Of course, my first love is tennis. I don't generally miss a tennis match on television. Cricket only comes next.

'The time has come for the state government to take tough decisions'

The Rediff Interviews