Rama Mohana Rao remark exposes power struggle in AIADMK: Thol Thirumavalavan
Former chief secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao’s outburst means there is a power struggle within the AIADMK and it was clear from the fact that he was openly challenging and attacking Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and the government headed by him, says VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan.
In a wide-ranging interview with E.T.B. Sivapriyan, he said the leadership vacuum within the government and the AIADMK have been filled effectively, but only time can tell whether the successors can emerge as powerful as late Jayalalithaa. He also spoke about MDMK’s decision to quit the PWA and the future of the alliance.
Excerpts:
Q: How do you view this announcement by Vaiko saying that the MDMK is out of the PWA?
A: I never expected MDMK to walk out of the People’s Welfare Alliance. For the past one and a half years, the PWA has been raising people’s issues at every forum. But we had serious differences over demonetisation. While all of us — VCK, CPI and CPI (M) — were opposing demonetisation, the MDMK supported the policy. This contradiction could have led Vaiko take the decision. This was the right time for Vaiko to have travelled with us and fought together for the people of Tamil Nadu.
Q: Is demonetisation the only issue on which MDMK left the alliance or is there a deeper political rift or reason for the split?
A: Demonetisation is the biggest political issue that is confronting the country today. Left parties held nation-wide protests against the move and VCK participated in it. Our difference on demonetisation is the major reason for the split. But this decision gives room to speculation whether Vaiko is using this as a precursor to have an alliance with the BJP.
Q: Will not the departure of the MDMK from the PWA weaken your alliance further at a time you are already struggling to establish yourself as a credible Third Front?
A: I admit it is a setback to the PWA. However, the three parties (VCK and Left) are determined to be together and function as one group. And we will also talk to like-minded parties and try to bring them to our fold to strengthen our alliance. We are discussing the issue of expanding the alliance among ourselves and we will make our strategy public soon.
Q: As a seasoned politician, do you see Vaiko’s move as a precursor to his taking the MDMK into the AIADMK alliance?
A: Yours is a speculative question and I can only give a speculative answer. I can’t speculate on behalf of Vaiko, but I am sure he can’t go with the DMK-Congress alliance since he has opposed them several times. He has three options left for now — align with BJP, align with AIADMK or contest independently. And elections are three years away from now and I can’t speak for Vaiko on which option he will go for. And still I will not be able to say that Vaiko quit only to join the BJP or AIADMK alliance.
Q: Political pundits say there exists a political vacuum in Tamil Nadu after J. Jayalalithaa’s death. What is your opinion?
A: After the death of Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK elected O. Panneerselvam as the leader for its legislature party and Sasikala Natarajan as General Secretary for the party. The question of leadership in the government and the party has been settled. The leadership vacuum has been settled for now. Whether the two will be able to perform like Jayalalithaa or how far they will succeed needs to be wait and seen.
Q: How do you see the I-T raids at the residence of Rama Mohana Rao?
A: As far as the raids are concerned, it is legal. I-T department has powers to raid anyone based on information.
Q: Rao made several allegations on Tuesday. How do you see it?
A: It looks like Mr Rao wanted to expose the actual reason behind (the raids) and maybe he feels that it was not a routine raid. From my understanding, the focal point of the press conference was Mr Rao's objection to the interference of the Union Government in the affairs of the state. He was trying to ask whether there was any force behind the Chief Minister (OPS), which is not allowing him to function, or is he yielding to the pressure (from the Centre?) It (his statement) makes one feel whether there is a power struggle within the AIADMK. With Jayalalithaa no more, there would certainly be a power struggle in the party. One group would try to attack the other and what was clear was that Mr Rao was not with O Panneerselvam. It clearly showed the bureaucrat was against the CM.
Q: How do you say that?
A: He (Rao) said this government does not have guts to remove him. May be, Mr Rao is from the other group (Sasikala). And his statement amply implies that Mr Rao is not with OPS. He was openly challenging the OPS government and it is possible that he was doing it after being egged on by people who were directing him (from behind the scenes). This underlines the fact that the ruling party was controlling most of the IAS officers.
Q: There is a murmur in political circles that BJP is trying to fish in troubled political water in Tamil Nadu. What is your opinion?
A: I have been saying that the BJP was trying to make inroads in the state ever since Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital. What was the need to send AIIMS doctors? Did Apollo Hospitals ask for it? Did they come to pass information to the Centre? These questions have been unanswered for a very long time. It looks like the BJP is trying to gain political mileage.
