Sunday Interview: The interest in my candidature is because of my second name

Being the son of a leader of your father’s stature has its own set of advantages. What did you learn from him?
He is a hard worker who has a great eye for detail. Though he comes from a financially privileged family, he worked his way up from the party’s labour wing to Union finance minister’s office. Also, he is very precise and meticulous. I learnt that from him.

What do you appreciate most in Chidambaram, the father, lawyer and politician?
I respect him hugely for having a career outside politics. Being a full time politician is very dangerous. If you are not in government you don’t get a salary. It is very important for everybody to have a fallback career especially in times when you are not in office. I think my father balanced both admirably.

How do you compare with your father?
His biggest grouse against me was that I am a great generalist. He is very precise. He would read every document given to him. He is very quick to update himself. I cannot say the same about me. I wish I were. But, both of us are socially very liberal and are free market thinkers. Though he influenced me a lot, I learnt a lot through my own education, travels and experiences. All my education beyond school was in the West. I went abroad at a very young age. He went abroad after his college education. There is a slight difference in conditioning as well.

Your father’s style of politics is considered elitist. How do you respond to that?
There are three different kinds of politics. Kaavarchi politics (based on cinema and glamour). Unarchi politics (based on emotion). Valarchi politics (development) based on growth. I think my father has exemplified politics based on economic growth. I have seen the admirable way in which he explains the complex economic situation in very simple language people can understand. Someone who has listened to his speeches in Tamil would know what I’m saying.

He started at 23. You are starting at 42. Do you think it’s a little late to enter politics?
I don’t think 42 years is really late to get the first opportunity. I started very early too.
I addressed my first public meeting at the age of six. I am yet to find one in Tamil Nadu who did that. Being his son, I had to play a secondary role sometimes.

While critics accuse people from famous families of getting opportunities quickly, I was sometimes denied opportunities. I would have got the opportunity (Sivagangai ticket) earlier if I did not have his name as my name. It cuts both ways.

Does your father’s stature weigh too much on you?
Definitely, it looms large. There are 20 other Congress candidates, who are equally qualified and perhaps some are younger even.
The interest my candidature evokes is merely because of my second name. That is something I have lived with all my life. It’s not something new.

Did your father insist on your candidature or was it your choice?
I have worked intensively in every election since 1996. I always wanted an opportunity. I had to wait my time out. When the opportunity came I happily accepted it.

How do you plan to go about your campaign?
We have done lot of good work through Central government programmes — 19,000 students in Sivagangai have been given loans, which is life transforming. Many banks and training centres were opened. We have done a lot of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), personally. If somebody asks me what did you do other than open banks, I turn around and ask what did the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham open other than Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation shops. If you want bank branches, vote for us, if you want TASMAC shops you know whom to look for.

So, will you target the AIADMK?
They are the government here. We will contrast our style of functioning to what they have done with their tall promises and lack of delivery. I even have a slogan for her. “All in all amma, solvathellaam summa.” The contest in Sivagangai is between AIADMK and me.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham was in your alliance till March 2013. How do you see their exit?
They have been in the alliance with us for nine and a half years. It is unfortunate that they have stepped out of the alliance. It is best if they explain why they quit the alliance.

Tamil Nadu Congress goes alone without allies after a very long time. What are the prospects?
I don’t agree that only Congress is isolated.
 
Did Congress’ contradictory stand on issues like Lankan Tamils’ welfare result in isolation?
Regional parties can always take strident positions. Congress has to take a national view, which sometimes could be nuanced and make people think that we are isolated.
 
Did the BJP manage to bring so many parties together in Tamil Nadu because of a strong Modi wave?
I am saying they are not political parties. They are an alphabet soup. I do not see any wave for Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu.
 
Rahul Gandhi said it was premature to exonerate Mr Modi in the post-Godhra riots cases. Do you agree?
It is not over. The legal process is still on. There are many unanswered questions. Mr Modi is very shy to taking those issues head-on and being candid about it. And I believe the Congress vice-president is right. If he was culpable, Mr Modi must face the consequences under law. The case is only at the trial court. He is facing grave charges. I don’t think Mr Modi is completely exonerated.
 
What do you think should be done to strengthen Tamil Nadu Congress?
Like Dravidian parties, Congress should identify a strong and potential chief ministerial candidate and everyone should rally behind that person and we will become much more of a match player in Tamil Nadu.
 
Can consensus be reached in choosing one to lead given the factional feud in Tamil Nadu Congress?
Eventually, when there is a strong leader, he or she will be able to overcome the differences. That is what happened in DMK and AIADMK, which came through a process. Jayalalithaa should be given due credit for becoming the undisputed leader after MGR’s demise. The same holds good for Karunanidhi. There were many claimants for leadership after Annadurai’s demise. He came through the process and became the leader.

Was it wise on the part of your father and G.K. Vasan to opt out?
I don’t know about him (Vasan). My father is not quitting politics or public life. He has a proven track record in fighting elections. He has contested nine elections. Nobody in TN history has won seven times from the same constituency.
It is his legitimate right to take a break from electoral politics.