Kamal acting as AIADMK-BJP front’s B-team, charges CPM 

The AIADMK is trying to create an image of floating a mega alliance, but the reality is different. It may have many constituents in terms of the number of parties, but it lacks the people’s support. In this elections, the primary concern of the people is how to remove the Narendra Modi government. All sections of the people from businessman to peasants are affected by this government. There is a widespread anti-Modi wave in Tamil Nadu. Besides, the AIADMK now is not the old party post Jayalalithaa’s demise. Even now the AIADMK is faction-ridden. The party’s support base has eroded drastically. They are facing double anti-incumbency of Modi government at the Centre and Edappadi K Palaniswami government in the state. People obviously see the DMK alliance as an alternative and would vote for it.

All sections of the people are badly impacted by the price rise in the last five years and the negative growth in the industrial sector. Particularly, the fireworks industries in Virudhunagar, manufacturing sector in Coimbatore, knitwear sector in Tirupur and power looms in Erode were severely affected. Unemployment is a serious problem across the country with no new recruitments either in the government or the private sector taking place. Agrarian distress in the state is a major issue and particularly the impact of natural disasters.

It is the AIADMK-led alliance which has given importance to the casteist and communal forces. The ruling party has aligned with communal BJP and casteist PMK. Political parties in our front did not campaign across the state for caste-based consolidation whereas the AIADMK has aligned with parties which are known for instigating caste violence.

The absence of Kalaignar and Jayalalithaa is a new factor. But there is no qualitative change either in the DMK or the alliance led by it. The DMK continues to function in such a way how Karunanidhi would have taken it forward with the allies unitedly. However, the absence of Jayalalithaa is being felt in the AIADMK-led front. The ruling party in the state lacks leadership and it is faction-ridden.

The last Assembly election was held under different circumstances. In the last two years, we had jointly held several movements and protests along with the DMK against the Centre and the state governments. Only after such joint movements, we have decided to join the DMK-led alliance. Unlike the AIADMK-led alliance whose constituents were hitting out at each other till recently. They never came together on a platform on any issue before forming this alliance. Everyone knows what PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss spoke about the Edappadi government and Modi government. What has changed in last month? It is the AIADMK-led alliance which is an opportunistic one

Whom Kamal Haasan supports in this election is more important than whatever he spoke about us. He wants to split the anti-BJP and anti-AIADMK votes going towards the DMK-led alliance. Kamal is functioning as a B-team of the AIADMK-BJP.

I don’t think they will be able to win any seats. In some seats, he may split a considerable number of AIADMK votes. Nothing more.

It may help us in some seats. But our victory is not dependent on the split of the AIADMK votes alone. Truth is that the AIADMK vote bank has eroded drastically. We will be able to consolidate the support of the people opposing the Centre and the state governments.

We have good chance of winning both the seats. Traditionally, Madurai and Coimbatore constituencies have voted for the Left candidates.