ABP Live Exclusive: BJP's Countdown Has Started From Bengaluru, Says TN CM Stalin On 2024 LS Polls

In an exclusive interview with ABP Nadu, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin opened up on formation of ‘INDIA’, raids by central probe agencies, the state of affairs in the country and DMK's plans for 2024 LS poll

CM MK Stalin spoke on alcohol prohibition, his foreign trips and a range of topics.

Source : PTI

Chennai: Over the past two months, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been under intense scrutiny, gaining attention not only within Tamil Nadu but also on a national scale, for a series of significant events. On one hand, the party faced criticism due to the arrest of minister Senthil Balaji by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a cash-for-jobs scam. On the other hand, the DMK's involvement in the coalition 'INDIA', formed with the purpose of countering the BJP at the Centre, has sparked extensive debates throughout the political spectrum. These contrasting developments have placed the DMK at the centre of attention, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

Against this backdrop, in an exclusive interview to ABP Nadu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin spoke on the formation of ‘INDIA’, raids by central probe agencies, the general state of affairs in the country, and his strong opposition to the BJP's policies.

Q: You are bringing about a change in the society through 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Scheme', the CM Breakfast scheme, free bus travel for women and ‘Pudhumai Pen' scheme. Will you announce a complete liquor ban in TN within three years as the big announcement on Kalaignar Karunanidhi's centenary?

Regarding alcohol prohibition, the DMK government is functioning with a clear vision. On the event of Kalaignar Karunanidhi's centenary, 500 liquor shops have been closed. In a phased manner, efforts will be taken to reduce the number of liquor shops and to create awareness of the ill effects of alcohol. The government is monitoring those creating chaos under the influence of alcohol, and legal actions are being taken against them. We are committed to eliminating the harm caused to women by tipplers. I would like to inform the homemakers through you that the government has been taking serious measures in this matter. 

Q: Your effort to unite the Congress and many other parties to defeat the ruling BJP is starting to bear fruit. However, many parties who are rivals to each other are part of the collation. So, political watchers opine that this can cause many issues within the alliance and may turn beneficial to the BJP. What's your view on this?

A coalition named "INDIA" was formed at the Opposition meeting held in Bengaluru. On multiple occasions, DMK has already proved that political parties with different ideologies can be united on the basis of a common cause. Kalaignar Karunanidhi has a major leading role to play in this. In the same way, in the Opposition meeting I took part in Bengaluru, INDIA has been formed to save India. We should save the country. The unity of Opposition has been showcased in the need to save the Constitution.

BJP is threatened after seeing the united Opposition. The BJP-led Union government works with the idea that it can suppress parties by using Enforcement Directorate, CBI and other agencies. From this, BJP's fear of the Opposition coalition is evident not only to journalists like you but to the people. As a result, I believe that BJP's countdown has started in Bengaluru. 

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Q: At the national level, your dream of a mega alliance has come true. What kind of strategies have you put forward on your behalf to defeat the powerful BJP? 

The BJP is not a powerful party. If they have the strength, then why should they fear the Opposition's unity? Election strategy has been discussed in the first meeting of the secular alliance of opposition parties in Bihar's capital city Patna. While giving an interview after returning from the meeting, I said, "I have put forth 7 important strategies in the Opposition meeting. The unity of the secular parties helped with the victory in Tamil Nadu."

Similarly, I spoke that everyone should be united at the national level. I said that whichever party is strong in a state, the alliance should be formed under their leadership in that state. I also shared with the media that if oppressed and underprivileged people are to be safeguarded, then BJP must not come to power again. 

'INDIA' was formed in a Bengaluru meeting to give full shape to the thoughts of alliance leaders who expressed their opinion like me. You will learn about the various strategies to be implemented on the field as the election nears. 

Q: In order to defeat the BJP, which has Modi as the PM face of the party, is there a possibility in your alliance to run for the elections after declaring the face of the PM candidate? This question is because last time you announced Rahul Gandhi as the face of the front.

More than who the PM is, it is important that a democratic, secular, egalitarian India is protected. After the Bengaluru meeting, I said that the alliance was based on the fact that who should not come to power. As a result, the motive is that BJP should be defeated. If Modi-led or BJP-led by anyone comes to power, India's integrity and state rights will be called into question. I would like to recall another thing. In 2004, when United Progressive Alliance came to power,  no one announced or expected that Dr Manmohan Singh will be made the Prime Minister. We should not forget that under his leadership, the stable rule of 10 years paved the way for India's sustained growth.

Q: How is the DMK-led alliance going to face the Parliamentary elections in Tamil Nadu? AIADMK and BJP are already making massive allegations of corruption and breakdown of law and order in the state. What's your response to it?

It's not a big talk but it's just a talk. There is no more false propaganda than that. It is an expression of irritation from those who cannot digest the achievements of the Dravidian model of government which protects the welfare of the people.

This Dravidian model of government has built a multi-purpose hospital in Guindy and a Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai within a short span of time. Thereby, medical services reach the people and youth get a repository of knowledge respectively. Can you identify any other government that has implemented such creative plans? As they could not make any accusations against the government, they are trying to blow things out of proportion. It will not work with the people. We are with the people. The people are with us. The DMK alliance will win in the state with the support of the people. Our motto of '40 for 40' will come true. 

Q: Currently, in the states that are not governed by BJP, the Income Tax department and the Governors concerned have become the talk of the town. What do you think about this? 

It shows that BJP does not believe in or respect democracy or the Constitution written under the leadership of Dr BR Ambedkar. It is evident through the anarchic and outrageous actions of the BJP government. BJP is functioning in the worst and most dangerous ways like using a Governor to try to act against the ruling government, targeting parties that oppose the ideology of the party with the help of ED, CBI and IT, and welcoming and providing a ministerial berth to leaders of other parties with criminal cases pending against them when they join BJP.

The gutkha case against former AIADMK ministers has been kept in abeyance by the Governor. At the same time, ED raided the residence of Minister Ponmudi in a case that got diluted over the years. The people are watching the double standards of the Central government. They will give an apt verdict to BJP in the coming elections.

Q: The BJP, which was not talked about much in the state, is spreading among people either positively or negatively. How do you see this?

There is not even an iota of link between positive politics and the BJP. It is a party that does only negative politics to divide the people on the basis of religion. Unable to tell the achievement of their government in the past 9 years, BJP is using agencies like ED with the intention to tarnish the image of the ruling government so that it can cast a dent. This BJP is not popular among the people. There is no chance for it too. Such an illusion is deliberately created among the media. Usually, when there is a ruling party, it is the opposition party that creates the talking points.

As an official opposition of Tamil Nadu, AIADMK has been enslaved by BJP. By celebrating the corrupt AIADMK, BJP is attempting to get on the shoulders of the party to gain the attention of the people of Tamil Nadu. It will only vanish like a mirage. If possible, ask this question to the Opposition leader Palaniswami and you will get a proper answer. 

Q: BJP and AIADMK are strongly criticising the move to keep Senthil Balaji as minister who is facing investigation and is under arrest. You can make him a minister again once he is proven innocent, but why this unnecessary controversy?

DMK will never support crimes or criminals. In Senthil Balaji's case, the investigating agency should have worked beyond doubt... There are all kinds of corruption complaints, lawsuits and trials against the former ministers of ADMK. However, it is the BJP government, not the DMK, that has created controversy by not acting on them but instead arresting Senthil Balaji. The BJP ought to first remove ministers from its cabinet who have a criminal record. Morality is certainly not a one-way path in politics.

Q: You are projecting a trillion-dollar economic growth and attracting investments from the industry. But the opposition parties ADMK and BJP criticise your foreign trips as personal visits. What's your response to their demand for issuing a white paper?

Palaniswami, who touched PM's feet to please him, too went to foreign countries. His party might have wanted to impose their experience on us. As far as the Dravidian model of governance is concerned, we want to revive the economy that went into the abyss in the past 10 years and make Tamil Nadu the top industrial development indicator in India. The Opposition need not worry about investments. The Global Investors Meet is set to take place in Chennai next year. After that, the details on the investment, industrial development, investment and employment opportunities for the youth will be declared.

(Translated by Bharathi SP)

(This interview originally appeared on ABP Nadu — the Tamil platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and the latest happenings from Tamil Nadu, follow https://tamil.abplive.com/)