State vice-president of BJP and its election candidate from Coimbatore South, Vanathi Srinivasan, who began her campaign on Sunday, talks to Adarsh Jain about her party's poll plans, why alliance talks with DMDK failed, her views on DMK, AAIDMK and Vijayakanth Team and campaigning plans for her constituency.
1. How is BJP gearing up for the election?
Preparations began a long time ago. We regularly organize workers' meets where we deliberate on issues pertaining to that constituency. We meet key voters in each constituency. We were the first party to announce the candidates' list. Acceptance of BJP as a significant party in Tamil Nadu has risen over time. The efforts of party workers at the ground level and the image of PM Narendra Modi will bring us success in Tamil Nadu this time.
2. What is the status of alliance talks with New Justice Party, IJK and others?
Party's core members met two days ago to discuss seat sharing. The second list, which will be released soon, will include candidates from these parties.
3. Why did alliance talks with DMDK fail?
During the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP, DMDK and PMK were united in their purpose to remove UPA from power and make Narendra Modi the prime minister. But, in this assembly election, the regional parties, DMDK and PMK, have their own agenda. They have projected their own leaders as candidate for chief minister. We don't have much in common now.
4. What did the BJP offer DMDK?
I'm not sure what was offered to Vijayakanth. There were some discussion regarding the schemes both parties would promise while campaigning. But, Vijayakanth chose to go with the PWF. He would have had a better chance with the BJP, as our party is in power at the Centre.
5. Who is the probable CM candidate for BJP?
We had decided four months ago that we would not announce the CM candidate. It is not an essential criterion for winning the election. We won in Maharashtra and Haryana without announcing the CM candidate.
6. What do you think about the Captain Vijaykanth Team?
There is no link in the alliance between the DMDK and the PWF. DMDK's vote share has come down over a period of time. Communist parties, on the other hand, have failed across the globe. In India, they have been thrown out of power in two major states. VCK's Thol Thirumavalavan does not have support from any section, but for the scheduled community. MDMK leader Vaiko failed to prove himself in the Lok Sabha election. We don't know how this alliance will get votes projecting Vijayakanth as CM.
7. Your views on DMK?
It is a senior citizen's party. Most of the party leaders are above 60. They have failed to project young leaders. And, party chief Karunanidhi himself does not believe in his son M K Stalin to be projected as CM candidate.
8. What are your views about AIADMK?
It is a spineless party. There is no space for anyone but the party leader. This is not good for the state. This is why today's youngsters are aspiring for new leadership. With this frame of mind, BJP has a better chance of winning. She (Jayalalithaa) is an inaccessible CM. Forget Central ministers being denied access to her, even the public who voted her to power are unable to reach her.
9. What are your campaign plans?
I began my campaign at 7am on Sunday with a small puja. I will carry on with door-to-door campaigning. People in Coimbatore South have traditionally focused on the candidate rather than the party while voting. Thus, it's essential to reach out to them personally. Besides the traditional door-to-door campaigning, I will also meet the youth and women.
10. Your constituency has a sizeable North Indian and Malayali population. What are your plans to gain their votes?
The North Indian population has supported us. In 2014 Lok Sabh elections, significant amount of votes came from them. I have planned to reach them in their mother tongue. I am preparing WhatsApp messages in Marwari, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. As far as Malayalais are concerned, they have traditionally been MGR supporters. But, I feel that the youth today does not have a personal connect with MGR. And, that is where the Modi factor comes in.
1. How is BJP gearing up for the election?
Preparations began a long time ago. We regularly organize workers' meets where we deliberate on issues pertaining to that constituency. We meet key voters in each constituency. We were the first party to announce the candidates' list. Acceptance of BJP as a significant party in Tamil Nadu has risen over time. The efforts of party workers at the ground level and the image of PM Narendra Modi will bring us success in Tamil Nadu this time.
2. What is the status of alliance talks with New Justice Party, IJK and others?
Party's core members met two days ago to discuss seat sharing. The second list, which will be released soon, will include candidates from these parties.
3. Why did alliance talks with DMDK fail?
During the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP, DMDK and PMK were united in their purpose to remove UPA from power and make Narendra Modi the prime minister. But, in this assembly election, the regional parties, DMDK and PMK, have their own agenda. They have projected their own leaders as candidate for chief minister. We don't have much in common now.
4. What did the BJP offer DMDK?
I'm not sure what was offered to Vijayakanth. There were some discussion regarding the schemes both parties would promise while campaigning. But, Vijayakanth chose to go with the PWF. He would have had a better chance with the BJP, as our party is in power at the Centre.
5. Who is the probable CM candidate for BJP?
We had decided four months ago that we would not announce the CM candidate. It is not an essential criterion for winning the election. We won in Maharashtra and Haryana without announcing the CM candidate.
6. What do you think about the Captain Vijaykanth Team?
There is no link in the alliance between the DMDK and the PWF. DMDK's vote share has come down over a period of time. Communist parties, on the other hand, have failed across the globe. In India, they have been thrown out of power in two major states. VCK's Thol Thirumavalavan does not have support from any section, but for the scheduled community. MDMK leader Vaiko failed to prove himself in the Lok Sabha election. We don't know how this alliance will get votes projecting Vijayakanth as CM.
7. Your views on DMK?
It is a senior citizen's party. Most of the party leaders are above 60. They have failed to project young leaders. And, party chief Karunanidhi himself does not believe in his son M K Stalin to be projected as CM candidate.
8. What are your views about AIADMK?
It is a spineless party. There is no space for anyone but the party leader. This is not good for the state. This is why today's youngsters are aspiring for new leadership. With this frame of mind, BJP has a better chance of winning. She (Jayalalithaa) is an inaccessible CM. Forget Central ministers being denied access to her, even the public who voted her to power are unable to reach her.
9. What are your campaign plans?
I began my campaign at 7am on Sunday with a small puja. I will carry on with door-to-door campaigning. People in Coimbatore South have traditionally focused on the candidate rather than the party while voting. Thus, it's essential to reach out to them personally. Besides the traditional door-to-door campaigning, I will also meet the youth and women.
10. Your constituency has a sizeable North Indian and Malayali population. What are your plans to gain their votes?
The North Indian population has supported us. In 2014 Lok Sabh elections, significant amount of votes came from them. I have planned to reach them in their mother tongue. I am preparing WhatsApp messages in Marwari, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. As far as Malayalais are concerned, they have traditionally been MGR supporters. But, I feel that the youth today does not have a personal connect with MGR. And, that is where the Modi factor comes in.