Dr K Krishnaswamy, who prefers politics to medicine, was the first popular leader in Tamil Nadu to unite the Dalits of the southern districts, Kanyakumari, Tirunelvelli and Tuticorin.

After the Puthiya Tamizhagam was born, other Dalit organisations also emerged to accommodate the needs of other sections of the Dalits. Dr Krishnaswamy is leader of the Dravidakula Pallalar community.

In the 1996 election the PT made a mark on Tamil Nadu's political map. Then, in the 1998 Lok Sabha election, as an ally of the Third Front, PT candidates gave an even more impressive show.

Special Correspondent Shobha Warrier met Dr Krishnaswamy, after his party recently joined the DMK-led front, to discuss this summer's assembly election.

Dr Krishnaswamy, you have been a very strong critic of the DMK government on several issues. In spite of this you decided to align with the DMK. Why?

The Puthiya Thamizhagam has been following the principles of E V R Periyar, Ambedkar and Marx, and we didn't want to deviate from those principles. It is true that there was friction between the DMK and our party. I cannot deny that. It is not only on the Manjoli issue, there are so many other issues on which we felt bad and affected. But aligning with a political party is not a simple issue.

We decided to align with the party for certain principles as we felt, even after suffering under the DMK regime, that we do agree on many principles. That has brought us together.

Is it because at this point you had to choose between the AIADMK and DMK?

No, not at all. Our alliance with the DMK is a positive one. We are against corrupt forces. We are against communalism and casteism. Corruption is a major issue.

You said you are against communalism. Does the BJP's presence in the DMK front bother you? What is your opinion of the BJP?

Yes, we are against communalism. We are against casteism. We are also against corruption. Our party is fighting as a part of an alliance. As we feel we cannot remove all the evils in one stroke, we have to choose one issue.

So you chose corruption as the most important issue.

It is not corruption alone. Communalism is also an issue. But corruption is the main issue on which we want to fight this election.

Do you consider the BJP a communal party?

They, themselves, openly say that Hinduism should be the way of life. They themselves say they are a communal party. But they cannot implement it now as the people's mandate is against it.

How do you describe Sonia Gandhi's visit to the Kumbh Mela as a symbolic bath? Is the Congress a communal party?

Participating in a religious function does not make a person or a party communal. If the party preaches religion, then, it is communal. Religion should be private. It should not be mixed with politics.

What about caste and dividing people on the basis of caste? There are a lot of caste-based parties now. Is it good for the country and the people?

The entire society is divided on the basis of caste and religion. It is not new to our country.

But our party is against those who advocate casteism and communalism. Our friends are those who are against casteism and communalism. Our enemies are those who are for casteism and communalism.

Do you expect any problems with the BJP in the DMK front?

The BJP is only a minor partner in Tamil Nadu. I don’t think they will have any say because the DMK is the major political party here.

If the PMK had continued in the DMK front, would you have joined the front?

Our alliance with the DMK had nothing to do with the PMK. We had decided earlier we would join hands with a party that follows the principles that we also follow.

Many political analysts say Jayalalitha is in an advantageous position now that the PMK has joined her front?

It is not so. It is true that calculated propaganda is going on to bring the corrupt regime back to power. If, at all, anybody can fight against the DMK government, it is only us who is supposed to fight.

Our party suffered, I myself suffered, but we are not fighting the DMK government. What are the grievances other people have against the DMK? Has the DMK looted the state like the AIADMK government? No. There is an overall improvement in the governance.

It is said Jayalalitha is very strong in the southern districts because all the Thevars are with the AIADMK. The argument is that with the PMK joining the front, Jayalalitha will get the support of Vanniyars in the northern districts too. What is your opinion?

If you take the southern and northern districts, only 20 per cent of the people are from those communities. The Devendra Kula Kallalars community, that supports the Puthiya Thamizhagam, also constitutes only 20 to 25 per cent. So, it is neutralised. Now tell me, where is the advantage for the AIADMK?

When the PMK leaves the NDA and joins the AIADMK, it may be advantageous to that front. But when the Puthiya Thamizhagam joins the NDA, that advantage goes.

But there are so many parties among the Dalits. Do you expect a consolidation of all Dalits under one umbrella?

That is the problem that Dalits are facing now. There are several communities among Dalits and three of them are popular ones.

The Devendra Kula Vellalars are very strong in the middle, west and southern districts. The cobbler community in the western districts and the Adi Dravidar community in the northern districts. There is a lot of differences between these three communities, culturally and socially.

So, how do you expect a single party or a single leader to unify these sections now? I tried to bring all Dalits under one umbrella, but some vested interests created problems.

Do you feel that the time has been reached in Tamil Nadu when a coalition government is the need of the hour?

You are absolutely correct.

There are so many different types of people in the state and they have aspirations. One single party cannot fulfill the aspirations of different sections of the people. So, we have reached a point where we need to have coalition governments. Take the example of what Jyoti Basu did for 25 years in West Bengal and also the coalitions in Kerala.

Have you spoken about coalitions to the chief minister?

No, so far I have not spoken to anyone.

It was reported you met Cho Ramaswamy. What was the political significance of the meeting?

That was not the first time I met him. I used to meet him at least once in three or six months, but nobody noticed then. Now that elections are round the corner, this was reported.

We have to talk to various people to understand how things are moving. We have to enlighten ourselves. We discuss mainly politics, but we also discuss many other issues.

I also bring out a newspaper. I seek his advice on that. Before I met him, I had announced boycotting the assembly election. I wanted to know whether I should boycott the whole session or participate in the debate. He told me that it was better to participate in the assembly proceedings. So, I did.

Cho Ramaswamy is reportedly quite unhappy with the DMK government. Did you discuss your decision to join the DMK front with him?

I did not discuss anything about the alliance. Actually, he is not 100 per cent against the DMK government. He does not agree with the government on the Veerappan issue and some such issues.

Design: Uttam Ghosh

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