I am confident of win, I know the pulse of youth: Shimla Muthu Chozhan

Shimla Muthu Chozhan, a political novice, is suddenly at the centre stage of Tamil Nadu politics. She is the DMK candidate to take on AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa in R K Nagar constituency in north Chennai.

Speaking to S. Thirunavukarasu, the lawyer-politician says she was at the forefront of flood relief measures that her party undertook in the area and she knows the constituency people for 10 years.

You are new to politics. Will you please tell us your early life?

I belong to Nagercoil, but had my schooling and college in Chennai. I have been living in R K Nagar for 10 years. I know the problems of the area and the people here.

How do you feel about being fielded against a political veteran like J.Jayalalithaa?

It is a challenge. I am confident I can emerge victorious against the Chief Minister. The party decided to field a woman candidate against Jayalalithaa. I am happy the leadership has chosen me. I am a young politician. I can perform much better as I know the pulse of youth.

Your mother-in-law Sarguna Pandian is a former minister and has been in DMK for a very long time. But the party has given the ticket to you. Are your family members happy with the party’s choice?

All my family members, including my mom-in-law, are quite happy about my nomination.

You have been fielded against Jayalalithaa. Do you feel you have been made a scapegoat by your party?

I don’t think so. There is nothing called ‘made a scapegoat’ in politics.

What goes in your favour?

I am not scared. I know R K Nagar’s problems. I have been at the forefront in rescuing people and giving them relief when floods battered Chennai and R K Nagar area. The Chief Minister who represents the area in Assembly did not even step out to meet the people. Moreover, I have lived here for the past 10 years and people know me very well.

There is a general feeling that DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s influence on the party is weaning. What is your view?

I reject such charges outright. The DMK is led by Kalaignar and will continue to be led by him. Stalin is his commander-in-chief.

What are your views on DMK’s family politics?

DMK is not the only party where family members of party leaders hold positions. Parties like Congress, PMK and DMDK too have members of party leaders’ families in various positions. All those in DMK who hold positions have come up to this level on their own. The DMK first family has made so many sacrifices with many of their leaders spending time in jail for public cause.

The AIADMK government has distributed lots of freebies to the people in the past five years. Do you think the voters will still vote for your party forgetting the good they got out of these freebies?

The mixer grinders and table fans that were distributed to the poor were of poor quality and people are not happy. People know which government works for them.