Former health minister and AIADMK’s Viralimalai candidate C Vijayabaskar asserted that the Assembly election remains a “straight fight between the DMK and AIADMK”. In a freewheeling chat with TNIE’s Pearson Lenekar S R, the senior leader spoke about the party’s youth outreach, leadership strength in the delta region and criticised the DMK government’s performance in healthcare.
Is AIADMK losing its connect with young voters?
I don’t agree with that. This is the land of social justice, but there is also a cinema-driven attraction being created now. The screen is different from the ground. I myself am an example of how AIADMK promotes youth. I became an MLA at 26 and later a minister. That shows the opportunities our party provides. Any youngster who works sincerely can rise to leadership levels. We have trained nearly 100 youth speakers and implemented measures like the 7.5% reservation, which has benefited many.
In the delta and central regions, AIADMK is seen as lacking strong district-level leaders compared to the DMK. Why hasn’t the party built more second-line faces?
We have leadership across districts. In Pudukkottai, I am here, and in other districts too we have established leaders like O S Manian. At the same time, we are continuously creating opportunities for youth. Leadership is not built overnight. We will rise from this situation very soon.
The DMK frames this election as ‘Tamil Nadu vs Delhi’, often sidelining the AIADMK. Has the party weakened after internal feuds?
That is political narrative-setting. The reality is that the contest is between the DMK and AIADMK, and the ground is already shifting in our favour. In elections, things can change very quickly. We have seen that in Andhra Pradesh with N Chandrababu Naidu. With only 20 days left for the elections, anything can happen. This has become a narrative battle, but we will break that on the ground.
How do you assess Vijay’s political positioning in this election, particularly in terms of his stance against major parties?
Everyone is trying to build their own narrative. If someone claims to be ideologically opposed to the BJP, it should be reflected clearly. Vijay has not spoken much against the BJP, which raises questions. At the same time, he is positioning himself strongly as anti-DMK. What is seen on screen is different from what happens on the ground.
As a former health minister, how do you compare Tamil Nadu’s healthcare system then and now?
During our tenure, we established 11 medical colleges, including in Ramanathapuram, Ooty and Nagapattinam, where retaining specialist doctors was difficult earlier. We also set up 264 PHCs and 108 data centres. In the last five years, the DMK government has not established a single new medical college. There are still vacancies, and that remains a major issue. In my view, the health department is in the ICU, mainly because the momentum we created has not been sustained.
In Pudukkottai, half the seats have been allotted to the BJP despite AIADMK’s strong presence. What is the reasoning?
It is a leadership decision, and we respect it. But there is disappointment among cadre. Allocating three out of six constituencies in a district where the AIADMK has a strong base is not easy for party workers to accept.
There is a sense of being overlooked. However, we are a disciplined party. We will work united and put up a tough fight in all constituencies. Even in places like Alangudi, we have fielded a young candidate against a sitting minister. Despite challenges, we will stand together and work towards victory.
What is the reason for the delay in implementing the Cauvery-Gundar river linking project?
We had completed the groundwork during our tenure. Administrative sanction of around Rs 7,000 crore was given, with a broader vision of nearly Rs 14,000 crore. We planned to allocate around Rs 1,000 crore annually over 15 years. This project would benefit farmers in at least seven districts. The delay now is due to a lack of prioritisation and funding.