The Hindu : National / Elections 2004 : Q&A: M.Karunanidhi

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Wednesday, May 05, 2004

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National - Elections 2004

Q&A: M.Karunanidhi

We will not be part of Government

Buoyed by the opinion polls, which predict a landslide for the Democratic Progressive Alliance, the DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, says he regards the Lok Sabha election as a dress rehearsal for the big one — the 2006 Assembly election. Unwilling to be drawn into speculation about the shape of the next Government at the Centre, Mr. Karunanidhi refused to comment about suggestions that he could be one of the leaders who determine who rules in Delhi. However, he told R.K. Radhakrishnan in an interview that he does not rule out a realignment of political forces after the election. Excerpts:

You have toured most of the constituencies in the State. Do people accept your explanation for parting ways with the NDA?

They accept the reasons. We wanted to come out of the NDA. That is why they accept it.

How do you rate the DPA's chances?

It is bright, very bright.

How many seats do you think it will win?

If we win all the 40, I will be very happy. But in my calculation, we will win nothing less than 35.

Recent opinion polls suggest while the DPA will win Tamil Nadu easily, the NDA may scrape through or fall just short of a majority at the national level.

I have no interest in exit or opinion polls. You cannot decide anything based on these. In important elections, such poll predictions have gone totally wrong. It will only affect the party workers. If the polls say that the chances of one party are very good, then they will be overconfident. If the polls predict a bad outcome for the party, then the workers will be discouraged. It affects cadres either way. My opinion for a long time has been that there is no need for exit polls or opinion polls.

Will the DMK be part of a secular Government at the Centre?

My personal opinion ... we will not be part of the Government. That's my opinion. I will put forth this opinion in the party and discuss further.

Do you think some of your allies might desert you and return to the NDA if it falls short of majority?

If any party does so, then the people will give it an appropriate reply. But I am not aware of any such move.

Are you happy with the coordination within the DPA? Most of the partners were in the AIADMK front in the last Assembly elections. Has this created problems at the grassroots level?

There is no such problem. All of us are together at all levels. DMK workers all over the State are working for the victory of all candidates. The workers of the other parties too have been working hard for the success of the alliance candidates.

What are the main problems affecting the State? How would you rate the response of the Government?

The main problem is agriculture. The (State) Government was very lackadaisical. Because the Government did not have good relations with neighbouring States, Tamil Nadu was affected adversely. The Opposition was blamed for the Government's failures. The Government also did not show any interest in tackling the drinking water problem in Chennai. The desalination proposal is yet to take off. When we were in power we implemented this in Ramanathapuram district at a cost of Rs. 70 crores. We were able to ensure drinking water supply to 270 villages there. During the DMK regime, we constructed overhead tanks in all villages. Ko.Si.Mani (then Local Administration Minister) took upon himself this huge task and completed it all over the State. Look now. There is nothing. The `H' card proposal of the Government amounts to cheating people. I told this in the TV interview: it is like giving eyes but not vision. Then, weavers have been affected badly because of CENVAT. Also, now the multi-point tax system has been introduced. We had the single point tax to avoid traders being harassed by officials. The only thing they have done so far is to take all the sand from all the riverbeds so that the rivers are deep enough when the waters finally arrive (laughs)...

You have said that the DMK is in favour of the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, leading a secular Government. Do all the DPA partners endorse this view?

We will have to get together and discuss it. The Prime Minister could be chosen from the party that gets the majority MPs. Looks like the Congress could be the largest party.

The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, has said you will be one of the main players in the formation of the next Government...

The question of Government formation rises only after the election results are out.

Mr. Singh is also of the opinion that the non-NDA parties should immediately sit down and draw up certain parameters and agree that the party with the largest number of MPs be allowed to lead. Your comments.

It is a welcome suggestion.

What impact will actor Rajnikant have this time?

No comment.

Rajnikant has advised his fans to openly support the AIADMK and the BJP to ensure their own safety...

He has later clarified in New Delhi that he will not support anyone. He has said he will vote for the BJP. But he does not have that choice since the BJP is not contesting in the constituency where he resides.

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