Minister SS Sivasankar, who was inducted in the cabinet for the first time in the present DMK government, initially with the Backward Classes Welfare portfolio, was subsequently given charge of two key portfolios of transport and electricity, reflecting the trust the party leadership has reposed in him. He recently spoke to TNIE’s K Ezhilarasan on politics and about his department. Excerpts
You are the minister for two major departments - transport and electricity - that are directly connected to the masses. What will you highlight as achievements of the transport department?
The department was left in a bad shape by the AIADMK. Efforts have been taken to revamp by our CM (MK Stalin). He allotted funds for purchasing 11,000 buses, of which around 4,500 have already come to public use. The remaining will hit the roads in around four months time.
No recruitment was done during the previous AIADMK rule. We have recruited 685 for the state express transport corporation and another 3,200 for various TNSTCs. The wage revision, which should be done every three years, was not completed by AIADMK even after 23 rounds of talks. We completed it after three rounds of talks. The agreement for next wage revision has also been finalised now.
Many video clips are shared in social media about (poor quality) of old buses. How long will it take for the new buses to fully replace old ones?
When Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) was the CM,15,000 buses were bought in 5 years, but in the next ten years AIADMK bought only 14,000 buses. Had they bought enough number of buses, these complaints would not have come.
Break downs of old buses are not happening now. The incidents being shared happened during the AIADMK rule or in the early period of this government. We provide clarifications after taking them up with the fact-checking team. However, IT wings of AIADMK and BJP continue to spread them. Nevertheless, new buses will fully replace old ones in another three to four months.
There are annual revisions of electricity tariff. There is an allegation that despite increasing tariffs, the financial position of TNEB has not improved.
When the AIADMK was in power, they agreed to implement UDAY (Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana). Late CM Jayalalithaa had not agreed to this but it was done after the team of Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam came to power. Annual tariff revisions have come in because of this.
However, CM announced (for 2025-2026) that domestic consumers and small and micro enterprises will not face this increase. The State is absorbing the hike. Only big enterprises face the increase.
Addressing financial losses is not feasible in the short term, be it in transport or power departments. It is a long process and we are taking efforts towards that.
Changing bi-monthly billing to monthly cycle for electricity was DMK’s assurance in its election manifesto. When will it be implemented?
This has to be done taking into account the financial stress and other challenges. You know well that Covid-19 was at its peak when this government came to power. There was economic slowdown for a year. There was the burden of debts left by the AIADMK. Therefore, once the financial situation improves, we will certainly take steps to implement it.
The Oraniyil Tamil Nadu campaign (of DMK) is under way. Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami has alleged that DMK has launched this since it has lost popularity. How is the campaign progressing?
It has been going extremely well. TN coming together as one is not something new as EPS claims. TN has done this many times. It happened when there were attempts to impose Hindi, when court struck down reservation in Champakam Dorairajan case and for the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
We have been opposing NEET. Other states supported it. However, after seeing the irregularities in NEET, many are supporting our CM’s view now.
Similarly, it is Tamil Nadu that fought for state autonomy and Kalaignar initiated steps towards it when he was the CM. Now, other states are following us as our CM is taking it forward.
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are opposing Hindi imposition now. It is because TN came together as one many times in the past that many states are considering us as the frontrunner and following us.
Moreover, it is not just Oraniyil Tamil Nadu. If there are any external threats to India, we have rallied as Oraniyil India. This has happened when Kalaignar was the CM and now during Operation Sindoor, all of us saw TN coming together under CM’s leadership to express solidarity with the army.
The necessity to come together now is the ideological war BJP has waged against our (Tamil) soil, language, and race. Oraniyil Tamil Nadu is to rally people together to stand against this.
They are taking measures to impose Hindi. For non-existent (not in use) Sanskrit, they are allocating crores, but they are not inclined to allot funds for Tamil, an ancient people’s language that is widely spoken.
They have not released funds meant for education since we did not accept the National Education Policy. Funds under MGNREGS have not been released. Our rightful share from the GST collected from us is not given to us.
We can go on to level many such charges against the BJP. CM has taken up this initiative to bring TN together to oppose them. People are ready to rally behind the CM against the harsh measures of the Union Government against the State. That is why,(as of July 16) about 1.35 crore people have joined the initiative. It will be a huge success.
If the PMK join hands with the AIADMK again for 2026 elections, what kind of an impact it will have in the northern districts?
EPS earlier said that DMK is dependent on coalition parties, but AIADMK relied on the people. Now, he is expressing hope about PMK joining the alliance.
First he has to decide which leader of the PMK is with him since the party is now divided. Palaniswami’s hope of PMK joining the alliance when the party’s internal issue is not settled reflects his anxiety. Nobody is with him, except the TMC (M) and the BJP.
In the last election, they (AIADMK) announced 10.5 per cent reservation (for Vanniyars) on the day elections were to be announced in a bid to secure the votes of those innocent people. The people, however, did not believe this drama. It was the DMK that won big in northern districts.
While campaigning in your constituency Kunnam, Palaniswami said AIADMK started the process for caste-based census in TN, but it was dropped after the DMK came to power.
(Prime Minister) Modi, who was saying earlier that a caste census would divide people, has now agreed. This has been DMK’s continuous stance. Moreover, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also urged for it.
It is in this situation and with Bihar elections around the corner that Modi has announced the caste census. It will not be treated as one if the State government does it. Union government has the institution and the authority to do it. We have been urging them to conduct it since they will not accept if our government does it
Moreover, DMK governments headed by Kalaignar brought in amendments to provide reservations for various communities. None were rejected by the courts, be it the reservations for Kongu Velalars, Vanniyars (Most Backward Classes), Arunthathiyars or Muslims.
They (AIADMK) brought only one, the 10.5 percent reservation (for Vanniyars). That was struck down. Hence, what he is saying about the survey is a lie. They introduced it without the backing of numbers, knowing well that the court would reject it.
He also said the Union government announced caste census after he urged for the same when he met (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah in Delhi.
If that was the case, he should have said it before going to Delhi. Instead, he said he was going to inspect AIADMK’s office in Delhi. Now he is spinning more stories around the meeting. One of them is that he demanded for caste census.
In the AIADMK alliance, Shah said that BJP will be a part of the government (once the alliance wins the elections). Anbumani has also now said that the PMK wants to be a part of the government. What do you think of the idea of sharing power with coalition partners?
That experiment has not happened yet in Tamil Nadu. Even several AIADMK leaders have said it won’t work. But Edappadi Palaniswami is not responding directly to Shah’s remarks.
He says the AIADMK will get majority, but what he needs to clarify is about sharing of power. Meanwhile, Shah has been continuously saying it will be a coalition government. AIADMK is in a situation to clarify to its cadres its stance on this.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planning to visit Ariyalur and Perambalur districts by the end of this month. It is said that the BJP is already growing in these districts. Are these regions being targeted by the BJP?
They themselves claim that they are strong in the Kongu region, but even after holding a road show there, they could not win. During the elections, PM meditated in in Kanyakumari.
The people of TN rejected them despite all these gimmicks. It will be the same in Ariyalur and Perambalur. That region has strong influence of ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy. A small fraction may have turned to the BJP, but visiting there based on that will be a great disappointment (to the PM). Moreover, it is only during elections that his (PM’s) love for Tamil language and culture comes out. He seems to have discovered Rajendra Chola only now.
But it was our CM who passed an order to celebrate Rajendra Chola's birthday on Thiruvathirai Thirunal. It is being celebrated as a government function every year now.
There seems to be a multi-cornered contest in the upcoming assembly election. For the first time, actor Vijay's party is entering the poll fray. It is said that the youth will support him. What is your opinion on this? What efforts are being taken by the DMK to attract the youth?
During every election, a new party is brought to the field. They create the narrative that the youth will go with them, and by doing so, they try to secure a certain percentage of votes.
Are you saying Vijay's party is an effort to divide votes?
It is towards that attempt that actor Vijay has been brought to the field. Since youngsters go in large numbers to his films, they believe a lot of them will rally behind him. Watching films and electoral politics are different. Just because MGR, who acted in films, won, actor Sivaji Ganesan entered politics. Respected Vijayakanth also entered. Many others came. We should take into account what happened to all. T. Rajendar and Bhagyaraj came. Therefore, once elections are over, you will see the results for yourself.
As far as youth are concerned, the DMK was started by the youth. When DMK was launched, only Arignar Anna (CN Annadurai) was 40 years old. Others including Kalaignar, Navalar (VR Nedunchezhiyan), Mathiazhagan, and Perasiriyar (K Anbazhagan) were all in their twenties.
They started this party. It is because of the entry of those youngsters, who actively opposed Hindi imposition and struggled for reservation, big societal changes happened.
Youngsters joining DMK has been happening continuously. When our party president was the youth wing secretary, more youngsters joined.
The party continues to give more importance to youngsters. Those who came from the youth wing have found place in the cabinet and have become MLAs and MPs. Now, with our deputy CM assuming the post of youth wing secretary, young orators are being identified and given platforms (to showcase their talent). Training camps are organised to teach them about Dravidian ideology and philosophy. More youngsters are joining.
Therefore, DMK does not need separate plans to attract the youth. This is a party started by youngsters and is being run by youngsters.
Moreover, the measures being taken by the state government towards education has created a huge impact on youngsters.
Schemes like Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan that provide Rs 1,000 to students from government schools who join colleges have been brought in with their education and future in mind.
These have made the youth understand the keen interest our CM has towards them and their education. Moreover, with the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, the government is skilling the youngsters besides educating them. Many have now become IAS officers through this scheme. The number of students enrolling for coaching to clear UPSC exams under the scheme is on the rise. Therefore, the youth will certainly rally only behind our CM and Deputy CM.
The Dravidian movement is facing attacks from various fronts. Many are levelling criticisms. Beyond electoral politics, do you think youngsters are still attracted to core principles of the Dravidian movement? There are many new movements and political parties. Many are participating in those. The attraction youngsters have towards the Dravidian movement still remains a question isn’t it?
That is a conventional view. After the fascist BJP government came to power, with their actions posing threats to our language and reservation, we can see that the number of youngsters openly speaking in support of the DMK in social media has gone up.
Not only in TN, but we are also seeing many youngsters from other southern and northern states coming forward in support of DMK’s principles and share the messages of our CM.
The reason is the trust that this ideology will save India from the ideology of RSS that is trying to destroy the country. All of India is see only the Dravidian ideology as alternative to that.
The situation of a certain percentage of them always being under the influence of cinema or other individuals will be there.
Even when the DMK emerged as a massive force, a certain percentage voted against it. It is the same even today. However, the majority are behind the DMK because of the trust they have on its president and the CM.
An important election assurance of the DMK was obtaining exemption from NEET for TN. The death by suicide of Anitha from Kuzhumur in Ariyalur district intensified anti-NEET protests across TN. But NEET still continues. Where are we with the efforts get exemption? Is it possible?
It is definitely possible. When Hindi was imposed nationwide, TN alone fought against it. It turned out to be a long struggle. Many asked whether it would succeed since whole of India has accepted. But it happened. Tamil Nadu's voice was heeded and imposition of Hindi was stopped
Similarly, our voice against NEET will definitely win one day. As you mentioned, it was only after Anitha's death that entire TN got to know the fact that many students who scored high in Class 12 could score poorly in NEET. They would have entered medical colleges if admissions were based on Class 12 marks and not NEET.
Opposition to NEET even among the masses happened only after her death. Anitha’s death has left an impact on all of us, including DM and Deputy CM. Hence, we are continuing to protest against NEET.
The assembly unanimously adopted a resolution (against NEET). He (EPS) hid that (the information that the Bill was withheld). Later, (when DMK) came to power, the Governor withheld the Bill. We re-adopted and sent it again. Now, Delhi has refused to grant assent.
But a day will come when it will be accepted. Irregularities in the conduct of NEET in many States are being witnessed now. The malpractices that are not possible in Class 12 exams are being committed in NEET to enter medical colleges. Everyone is seeing that now. Hence, when the BJP government changes, NEET will definitely be scrapped.
There are only eight months for the elections. CM says their alliance will win 200 seats. Opposition leader says they will win 210 seats. In an interview to our newspaper, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that their alliance will definitely capture power in TN. In Oraniyil Tamil Nadu, targets are being fixed to enroll 30 percent of voters as DMK members. How do you see these initiatives? What is your take on the hopes of others?
They (EPS and Shah) say this during every election. They said the same during the last parliamentary election and the assembly election. However, we are seeing that AIADMK has been facing continuous defeats after Edappadi Palaniswami became the leader, irrespective of whether they are in alliance with the BJP or not. The situation is the same even today.
Whatever they say, they will not win against the DMK. The people are clear. Moreover, Oraniyil Tamil Nadu is an initiative to rally the state against the fascist forces of BJP. These are efforts that are always being done by our by CM. These need not be seen as things meant just for elections.
Edappadi Palaniswami says in his campaigns that the CM and the DMK is afraid of his campaign? Are you afraid?
We announced the Oraniyil Tamil Nadu initiative in our party’s general council meeting. When did he announce? It was after that.
He is the one who is afraid of Oraniyil Tamil Nadu and is now traveling in a luxurious bus, waving hands. He is not ready to come down (from his bus) and meet people even now. He is eager to attribute to us his own fears. That's all. DMK has always been the frontrunner in field work. If you look at every election, we start our work well in advance. They follow us. Be it meeting our cadres or our Deputy CM meeting district functionaries, we have been carrying out these work for the past 6 to 7 months. They (AIADMK) have come out only now. He is criticizing us because of that.