PWF is a policy-based alternative to electorate: G Ramakrishnan

Chennai: If DMDK chief Vijayakanth decides to join People Welfare Front, everything can be discussed, says CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan.

In a wide-ranging interview to Deccan Chronicle, he talks about reception to  PWF’s campaign, predictions of impending doom of  PWF and prepoll surveys that have been unfavourable to them so far.
 
Q The PWF is ahead of other players in launching the election campaign. How is the response so far, particularly in the north and western parts of the state?
People are yearning for a change from the alternating regimes of  AIADMK and  DMK. The two parties follow the same set of economic policies. Leadership of both parties are facing corruption charges and they have no interest to address  social issues. Moreover, they lack determination to oppose communalism. People, particularly the youth, farmers and unorganised workers rally behind us.  .
Q This is the first time leaders of an alliance are campaigning together in the State. How is your experience?
 A: It is a new chapter in the state’s political history.  Earlier, the parties will reach a seat-sharing agreement in the run up to the polls and release their election manifesto separately. But, we formed the PWF on July 27, 2015 to fight together for people’s issues.  At that time, we did not think about fighting elections together. We then released the Common Minimum Programme, another first of its kind effort.

Q You and other PWF leaders have met DMDK founder Vijayakanth and invited him to join your front. At DMDK’s Kancheepuram conference, his party cadres expressed their wish to see him as king rather than kingmaker. Will  PWF accept him as its  CM candidate?
We have not discussed it. If he (Vijayakanth) decides, we can discuss. Without knowing whether he is joining us or not, I cannot answer hypothetical questions.
QWhat is your stand on the recent debate on naming a Dalit as CM candidate?
We have already decided to take a call on CM candidate after the elections. There is no change in that stand.

Q How do you react to the charge of parties, including BJP and DMK that PWF will disintegrate before elections and may join AIADMK alliance?
These statements are made by those who do not like our alliance. We have gone to the point of no return. Public support for our alliance is growing and they are seeing us as an alternative to Dravidian parties.

Q How do you see your prospects?
 After five decades of Dravidian party rule, people are hoping for a change and PWF will certainly win this election. This time around, we have emerged as an alternative. We are confident that PWF will come to power.

Q Not only PWF, even PMK and BJP also call themselves as alternatives to  Dravidian parties. How do you differ from them?
 The PMK is a party, which claims its support base from a particular community. But, even people from that community do not vote for it en masse. They are a casteist party and they cannot be an alternative. BJP has no allies. All its allies in the Lok Sabha elections are no longer with it. The BJP will cut a sorry figure.

The alternative proposed by PWF is not a mere change of personalities but a policy based alternative. Both  DMK and AIAMDK follow the same economic policies pursued by Congress and BJP. Hence, for the first time a policy-based alternative has been placed before the electorate. There is a good response from people, who are looking forward for a policy change and corruption-free government.

Q Various pre-poll surveys place PWF at the bottom of popularity ratings. How do you see it?
These surveys were not done scientifically. Elections are two months away and a full-fledged campaign is yet to begin. Hence, it is too early to come to a conclusion. So, we cannot accept the survey results.
 
Q: What is your take on critics of PWF pointing the basic differences among the constituents in the stand on vital issues including Sri Lankan Tamils problem and Kudankulam?
 
A: If  there are no differences, there is no necessity for four different parties. We can be a single party. We have released the CMP based on point of consensus on the issues.