Chennai
Speaking to DTNext on a range of issues, CPM) Polit Bureau member and State secretary G Ramakrishnan (GR) said that a few changes in the strategy of electoral politics should not be misconstrued as compromise of the Left ideology
What is your reply to critics of DMDK-PWF alliance that it is opportunistic? Even a section of Left sympathisers are questioning it.
Left sympathisers should understand that the decision to form an alliance with the DMDK is a unanimous one taken by the state committee. There are no grounds for the critics to call the DMDK-PWF tie-up as opportunistic as it is necessary to form a strong combine to defeat both the Dravidian majors. It is not an alliance that was formed overnight.
The DMDK-PWF projects itself as an alternative, but what does it mean to the people?
Though the DMK and AIADMK have ruled the state for the last few decades, there has been no difference in their policies. “People are fed up with this bipolar politics and it is in this backdrop, we promise to provide the alternative in every sense of the word.”
On many occasions you said that the Chief Ministerial candidate will be decided after polls but why the sudden shift after aligning with DMDK? Isn’t that opportunistic?
Naming the CM candidate is not the sole prerogative of CPM as in the PWF, all the constituent members have equal say because PWF is not led by any single party. This is how we differ from ‘AIADMK-led alliance’ or ‘DMK led alliance’ and project ourselves as the alternative as we are democratic. Naming Vijayakant as CM candidate is the collective decision of PWF. The PWF-DMDK alliance is essential to put an end to the vicious circle of bipolar politics in the state and we have got a great opportunity now.
Even the DMDK has constantly changed its position - they were part of BJP-led NDA earlier and a month ago, they were said to be in talks with the DMK and the BJP to form an alliance. How do you view this?
They might have been in talks with those parties earlier, but they have made a wise decision. Rather than joining hands with the corrupt DMK or the communal BJP, they have preferred to forge an alliance with us, which is something great. This also shows their commitment to anti-corrupt, anti-communal political discourse of PWF.
CPI(M) was earlier in electoral arrangement with DMK and AIADMK. Now you are in an electoral agreement with DMDK. What is the difference?
Irrespective of whether it is DMK or AIADMK, whenever we had an electoral agreement with them, there will be single party rule when the alliance wins. Even before the party forms the government, we would announce that we are part of the opposition. But now, if the alliance wins there will be a coalition government. We will have a bigger role to play as the election manifestoes of both the DMDK and PWF will serve as the guiding factor.
Whenever an ‘alternative’ emerges, it is said to split votes in favour of the opposition party. How the DMDK-PWF will change this?
The fight is going to be between the AIADMK front and the DMDK-PWF alliance and the DMK front will be pushed to the third place. We hope that our combine will emerge as an alternative and not just split votes. We are banking heavily on more than 1 crore voters in the state who are dissatisfied with the bipolar politics.
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