Amid fluid political situations in Tamil Nadu following the chief minister O Paneerselvam raising a banner of revolt against the AIADMK general secretary V K Sasikala, the BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao in an exclusive interview with Manish Anand said that there should be a thorough enquiry into events leading to the death of J Jayalalitha. He also stated that the instability in the state politics is not because of the absence of the Governor Vidyasagar Rao but the internal conflicts within the AIADMK.
How do you look at the evolving political situations in Tamil Nadu?
The ultimate problem in the ongoing fluid political situations in Tamil Nadu is not because of the external factors. Neither the Central government nor any other political party is behind the political situations in the state. The whole issue is about the internal politics of the ruling AIADMK coming out in the public domain. It’s up to the leaders of the AIADMK to find solutions to the crisis affecting their party.
The Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao’s prolonged absence from Chennai is apparently inviting the accusations to the BJP government at the Centre over the evolving political situations in the state.
It’s not significant whether the Governor is in Chennai or not. He would surely see that the Constitutional obligations are carried out in a fair manner. It is completely unfair to say that the Governor’s absence from Chennai is the cause behind the apparent fluid political situations in the state. It’s obvious that there are internal conflicts within the AIADMK, which triggered the faction fighting within the party. The Governor will verify by gauging various issues to ensure that the Constitutional provisions are followed.
The state chief minister has suggested that a sitting Supreme Court judge should probe into the events leading to the death of his predecessor J Jayalalitha. Does the BJP support his assertions?
After what the state chief minister has said it becomes apparent that the people in the state want credible answers to various questions related to the circumstances surrounding the death of Jayalalitha. It’s in the interests of the AIADMK to reassure the people on all doubts surrounding the death of their leader. The probe should cover the days before the death and the events afterwards, and the best person to know anything on the issue of O Paneerselvam.
After many decades Tamil Nadu appears witnessing the transition of leadership in both the dominant parties of the state. How does the BJP fancy its chances to become a serious player in the state politics?
Rao: It’s after 1967 that both the ruling and Opposition party in Tamil Nadu are being led by people who had not obtained the requisite mandate from the people. So, it’s evident that the leadership of both the parties have not yet tested their credibility before the people. Therefore, there is definitely a feeling of a political vacuum in Tamil Nadu. And that’s the reason that the state politics becomes fertile with an invitation for other political outfits, including the BJP. We have the advantage that the BJP is being led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who enjoys strong appeal in Tamil Nadu. But we have to ensure that the BJP comes to the edge and gains capability to deliver to the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu. This is an opportune time.