CHENNAI: Premalatha Vijayakanth has, of late, been having busy days. Since her election on October 19 as the treasurer of the DMDK, a party founded by her husband Vijayakanth, she has been having regular meetings with various wings of the party. It appears that since Vijayakanth has not been keeping well recently, the burden of revitalising the party has fallen on Premalatha’’s shoulders. In a freewheeling chat with Express, she shares her opinions on a variety of topics.
After 14 years of field work and campaign for the party, you have been elected as the treasurer. What plans do you have to take the party to the next stage?
I have been elevated to this post because of my consistent hard work and also because of a long-standing demand from the party cadre. But this post is not just for celebration. It is a responsibility. I am regularly conducting consultations with functionaries of the party and aiming to develop the party on all fronts.
Do you have any plans to increase the women participation in politics in general and DMDK, in particular?
Not only me, our leader Vijayakant is also keen on giving maximum space for women in the party. We have also conducted a separate conference for women wing. We had also given a significant number of MLA tickets to women and are also looking for women to be posted as district functionaries of the party, which is a key post.
Coming to a topic outside your party, what’s your opinion on the currently raging #MeeToo movement?
To curb such harassments against women, we need to strengthen our laws. The judiciary and the police must work together for this. At the same time, women should be bold and expose the culprits, whoever it may be.
Commenting on the Sabarimala controversy, you had said that traditions must be followed in religious matters. But, what do you have to say when untouchability and other such discriminations were also practised in the name of tradition?
No, any tradition or costume should not degrade any human’s dignity. We should not allow such traditions. But I want traditions that don’t hurt anyone else to be followed. Also, we should not break age-old traditions and customs overnight.
Recently, Tamil nationalism is getting louder in social media. How do you see that?
The so-called Tamil nationalist are claiming that only Tamils should rule the state. Those who want to do good for Tamils also have equal rights to rule Tamil Nadu. A good ruler is the need of the hour to improve the state and protect the interest of the Tamils.
What do you see as the ideology of your party? Is it Dravidian or nationalist?
Our party’’s aim is to secure the needs and rights of the Dravidian states from the Union.
It appears that the DMDK has become a little weaker since no party is showing interest to ally with it for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections?
Due to the uncertainty and confusions in the state’s political climate, it appears like that. But when elections near, many will knock our doors.
There are a few new comers to the Tamil Nadu’s politics. Won’t that affect your party?
No newcomer can be a threat to us since our vote share is intact. We have presence in every poll booth across the state. You can see it when the votes are counted in the next election.