People feel we are Amma’s real successors

Interview/ T.T.V. Dhinakaran, founder, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam

PTI12_5_2018_000122B T.T.V. Dhinakaran

Your party is contesting byelections in all 19 constituencies. But, all the MLAs with you have been disqualified. What would potential victories mean to them?

All my candidates who lost their MLA seats know that injustice was meted out to them. The people also know this. This government under Edappadi K. Palaniswami needs eight more MLAs to continue in power. So, they are open to all tactics, right from income tax raids to paying money for votes and even trying to stop the elections. But, the elections will be conducted and we will have a major victory.

You seem to be a big crowd-puller. What explains your popularity?

The people of Tamil Nadu feel we are the real successors of Amma. They feel we are strong enough to fight the Centre and the state government, which they do not like anymore. The people feel we will not compromise and we will not let them down. More than 80 per cent of the people are supporting us, especially the women and the youth.

Are you staking a claim to Jayalalithaa’s legacy?

No. The people of Tamil Nadu feel the AMMK is Amma’s successor. It should be by the people and by the cadres. I cannot claim it.

You are from the Mannargudi family and Sasikala is your aunt. How will you overcome the hatred towards her?

All allegations against Sasikala are false. People have realised this. The enemies even made the death of our leader a controversy for political gains. [People are not] against our general secretary. They expect her to come back.

Are you just a rebel leader?

The opponents and their supporters have created this [movement]. If they thought I was a rebel, how [did people] elect me from Amma’s R.K. Nagar? It was a new record. This is going to happen all over Tamil Nadu.

Do you aim to take over the AIADMK after the elections?

About 95 per cent of Amma’s cadres are with us. The rest, apart from the betrayers, will also come to us.

Who is your arch rival—the DMK or the AIADMK?

I do not think our opponents are strong. They seem to be so because they have floated alliances. People want to remove both the state and the Central governments; they feel good things will happen automatically after that. They want the real Amma’s government, which only the AMMK can give.

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