Tamil Nadu: Without coalition, no corrective force in govenment, says VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan

Now that a third front (VCK-MDMK-CPI-CPM in alliance with DMDK and TMC) has been formed and people are keenly looking for change, there will be a verdict in our favour. First-time voters, who make up more than 10 per cent, are clear they don’t want freebies but sustainable solutions. People in rural areas have seen rampant corruption; urban voters have seen the inefficient government of both the DMK and the AIADMK. But the VCK was in alliance with both the DMK and the AIADMK earlier. Unless there is coalition politics, there won’t be a corrective force in government. In a real democratic process, power should be decentralised, pluralism in representation ensured. A multi-party cabinet will bring transparency and accessibility. But in Tamil Nadu, either DMK or AIADMK has ruled since 1967. Even if there were allies for the sake of name, there was no power sharing.

How crucial is this poll to Dalit politics?

This is the first time a Dalit party is contesting 25 seats in Tamil Nadu. Even the existence of Dalit parties or votes was not acknowledged by larger parties until 1999… Contesting 25 seats will consolidate votes in our favour, especially when we chose to avoid allying with the DMK or the AIADMK.

The PMK of S Ramadoss is seen as your key rival, especially after the anti-Dalit riots in Dharmapuri in 2012. Now Ramadoss’s son Anbumani claims they are a party without caste bias.

The very foundation and ideology of PMK is based on anti-Dalit programmes. They thought they could consolidate OBC Vanniyars and non-Dalits under their banner. But their defeat in 2011 forced them to stage riots in Dharmapuri… Their plan went wrong as most democratic forces started boycotting the PMK after the riots. Since this violent past has played against it, the PMK is now seeking to replace the blood-tainted face of Ramadoss with his son Anbumani’s.

Contesting after 15 years, what are your major challenges?

The DMK and the AIADMK have made the poll process extravagant. The minimum budget they have set is Rs 4 to 5 crore. In many constituencies I have visited, both Dravidian parties have already spent more than Rs 2 crore. My own expenditure so far is Rs 2 lakh, that too for setting up an office, getting a BSNL connection and chairs. Our cadres can’t afford to buy shawls for all leaders, nor can I supply vehicles to booth agents. But underestimating people’s intelligence would be a crime.