- 5 hours ago
As the political temperature soars in Tamil Nadu ahead of assembly polls, India Today’s Akshita Nandagopal travels to the heart of Chettinad to explore the intense four-way political contest in Karaikudi.
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00:06This is a production of the U.S. Department of Education.
00:08The U.S. Department of Education
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00:29The U.S. Department of Education
00:32The U.S. Department of Education
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01:17We are headed to Karai Kudir.
01:19Great food, amazing beautiful mansions and so much more.
01:23But why are we going there?
01:24For the scintillating four-way political battle.
01:27So join me on this journey.
01:45This promises to be a scintillating four-way battle.
01:49Congress's Maangudi vs. AMM case Tirpoki Pandi vs. TV case Dr. Prabhu and finally NTK chief Seeman.
02:26We are in the land of Karai Kudir.
02:28But talking about the politics here, this time it gets rather interesting.
02:32We are a member of parliament, Kathi Chidamram's residents.
02:35To understand whether this time for the Congress-DMK combined, Karai Kudi could be a bit of a challenge.
02:42You've got new entrants in the race.
02:44Many are deeming this a four-cornered contest.
02:46So is this still a walk in the park for the Congress-DMK?
03:17Okay.
03:18The proper temple.
03:19Proper temple.
03:20Proper temple.
03:21Highlight proper temple.
03:22Where we follow all rituals.
03:25And there is a daily Pujari who comes in and does everything as per tradition.
03:31So I am quite religious and I like to follow.
03:34Contrary to what they say about leaders from Tamil Nadu?
03:37That's not true.
03:38That's again a big misconception.
03:40You know, Tamil Nadu is the most Hindu of all states.
03:42There is not a single, pretty much most people in Tamil Nadu when they leave their house will only,
03:47before they will go to the puja room and put a little vibhudi or kungam before they leave.
03:51But I am religious.
03:52I am also ritualistic.
03:53And this is a proper temple at home.
03:55This is one of my happiest spots in life.
03:57I've asked this question also to many other leaders in Tamil Nadu.
04:00And that's because I think when I live in Delhi, it's a question that constantly comes to me.
04:04I'm sure you get it a lot.
04:05If Tamil Nadu is so religious, how does that not seep into politics?
04:09See, I think people here make a distinction between personal faith and political ideology.
04:15There is no contradiction.
04:17And even the Dravidian movement, which is the predominant political strain here, is not anti-God.
04:24It was against a certain social order at that point of time.
04:28And that is not, there has never been a denial of God or denial of, for people to go and
04:35practice their faith as they choose it.
04:36There is absolute religious freedom in Tamil Nadu.
04:58Come, Archita.
04:59Come, have a full Chettinard breakfast.
05:02Oh, my God.
05:03Wow, look at that spread.
05:05No, no, no.
05:05We are known for three things here in this area.
05:08Yeah.
05:08One is temples.
05:10Second is grand mansions.
05:13And third is our food.
05:14Wow.
05:14Combined with our hospitality.
05:16Now, the Virindhombal, which they say in this area is special.
05:19What is that?
05:20Virindhombal is the way you treat your guests, how you honor.
05:23So, it's a term.
05:23It's like a…
05:24Virindhombal.
05:24The kind of hospitality which we offer and we exhibit here is special.
05:31See, that is Kavanearisi.
05:32Kavanearisi is a red rice.
05:34It's like a red rice pudding.
05:36Is it sweet?
05:36It's a sweet.
05:37Okay.
05:38This is paya, which is the trotters of lamb.
05:41Yeah.
05:41That is chicken curry.
05:43That is egg aapam.
05:44Then we have sambar chutney, idli.
05:46Then we have aapam dosa and we have…
05:49What looks like lutto.
05:50No, no.
05:50It is like sakravili kalanga.
05:51It's like a…
05:52Sweet potato.
05:53Tuber.
05:54Tuber, which you make it into a little bit like a Kolkata.
05:56Please, you know, you should…
05:58I don't know where to start.
05:59The food is the highlight.
06:00You know, in fact, I always try to promote our area with…
06:04Anybody who is a foodie must come here.
06:15Should we ruin our meal with some politics?
06:18Absolutely.
06:19Aren't we talking politics?
06:21I want to talk about what's happening with the Congress.
06:23That the Congress is not able to kind of grow on their own.
06:26I mean, you have a leader like Rahul Gandhi who is popular…
06:29No, no.
06:29You cannot win state elections.
06:32You can't capture public imagination with national leaders.
06:36You have to have a leader who can capture public imagination here.
06:40Why hasn't that happened though?
06:41There are so many…
06:42We have somehow not been able to throw up a leader who's…
06:45Who's…
06:45Who's…
06:46Who's got a wide acceptance outside the immediate parties.
06:49Which is what I'm asking.
06:50Which is what I'm asking.
06:50Whether you've gotten comfortable in…
06:52Kind of sitting as a secondary party in the alliance.
06:55No, no.
06:55Of course, we are the secondary party in the alliance.
06:57Yeah, but you've gotten comfortable in that position.
06:59The Congress has space to grow in Tamil Nadu.
07:01But again, we have to project a leader who has the potential to be…
07:04Even considered to be a Chief Minister.
07:06Until then, we cannot be…
07:07Do you think there's someone like that with potential?
07:09It's not for me to say that.
07:10So, ultimately then, what do you think will be the result of this election?
07:17I think our formation will win the election.
07:18Even with Vijay and all of these permissions.
07:21See, he's a spoiler.
07:21In this scenario, let's say, if Vijay gets numbers and he joins the NDA post.
07:25It's a real speculative thing.
07:27I can't see seat conversion for him.
07:28You're essentially suggesting then that there is no question of an alternative in Tamil Nadu.
07:32There can be an alternative.
07:33That they can't…
07:33There can be an alternative.
07:34But once you articulate that alternative and bring in the apolitical people and involve them in the conversation and in
07:40the decision making and promote people from there.
07:42That's not happening.
07:43Vijay has not done that.
07:44He has not brought in an alternative candidate slate here.
07:50Those candidates have not proven themselves in public life.
07:54Not necessarily electoral life or in public thinking before.
07:56And neither has he exhibited any kind of enthusiasm or curiosity about public policy or engagement.
08:01That is what my worry is.
08:02Yes, actors have succeeded.
08:04Jayalitha has succeeded.
08:05MGR has succeeded.
08:06Jayalitha used to know the names of every district secretary, every functionary in a party.
08:11MGR built a party.
08:12I will be hard pressed if Vijay's name is their own district secretaries.
08:15But he claims to be the next MGR.
08:17See, these claims can a lot of things be.
08:20I mean, when I was growing up, I thought I'm the next John McEnroe too.
08:23You know, you can live in fantasy forever.
08:25But MGR, his trajectory in politics is very different.
08:29He served many years.
08:31He was in the Congress and he served many, many decades in the DMK.
08:35And he was the main propaganda tool for the DMK.
08:38The president of the party was MLC.
08:40Broke from the party.
08:41Contested a by-election.
08:42Won the by-election.
08:44Then contested a general election.
08:45Then came back.
08:46So, let's not.
08:47And Jayalitha was in the party.
08:48Party split.
08:49She struggled to bring the party together.
08:51They are leaders who came through struggle.
08:53This is a self-appointed party leader of a fan club.
08:56That's all it is.
09:10So, focusing now on Kare Kudi.
09:13Would you concede that yes, this time it's a four-cornered contest?
09:16See, there are four contestants, no doubt about that.
09:19But whether it will be really a four-cornered contest, we have to see.
09:24See, obviously, the strongest candidate is our incumbent.
09:29And our alliance candidate, the Congress candidate, Mangudi.
09:34The ADMK alliance has put an AMMK candidate.
09:37He's contested before.
09:38So, the real contest is only between both of us.
09:41And we should win this election.
09:43Of course, this is getting a little bit.
09:45We have a little bit of a publicity hound as a candidate for the TVK.
09:49So, there is a little bit of social media chatter for him.
09:52And then we have the eternal loudmouth Seeman as the fourth candidate.
09:56Eternal loudmouth.
09:57Eternal loudmouth Seeman.
09:58Eternal loudmouth Seeman.
09:58And also, so you think it's a four-cornered contest.
10:01No, but there are high-profile names.
10:03Like Seeman, for example.
10:04He's the chief of his party.
10:05He's chosen Kare Kudi.
10:07He's having these rallies where he's always talking about…
10:10Yeah, he can.
10:10See, Seeman politics is a Prabhakaran, Veerappan, Tamil nationalism fringe politics.
10:17I was surprised actually to say it very openly.
10:19There are no takers for that, you know, in a level which will convert into…
10:24But rally at people.
10:24Lots of people.
10:24People will come.
10:25People will come.
10:26Maybe you and I should also have a rally and we can see how many people come.
10:29You know.
10:29See, the point is…
10:31First of all, his ideas are all gobbledygook.
10:34Forget that.
10:35I don't want him to get into his ideas.
10:37I mean, it's all gobbledygook ideas.
10:38And, you know, he sort of, you know, taps into this frustrated Tamil nationalist young man's sentiment.
10:49But, you know, he's not a native of this place.
10:51He will for sure lose.
10:53You can take it as a guarantee.
10:58Thank you so much.
11:00Thank you so much.
11:12Thank you so much.
11:16You are the one who is here
11:21That is the one who is here
11:24It's the one who is here
11:30You are the one who is here
11:33I've got a more time catalogue
11:34I don't know the truth
11:36You are the one who is here
11:39You are the other person
11:57Rajini's song that he's played in his reel, but that is Dr. Prabhu who is the TVK candidate
12:02here in Karek Kodi making this a four-way fight.
12:05He's being called a reels politician, younger than the other lot who are fighting in this
12:10particular seat.
12:11Does that give him an edge or is it a disadvantage?
12:14I want him to particularly respond to what Kathi Chidambra said saying that you know it's
12:18a lot of fluff on social media and nothing more.
12:21We're at his party office in Karek Kodi.
12:23Let's catch him.
12:38So Dr. Prabhu I've seen your reels, you're quite popular on social media.
12:43Does that convert to words?
12:45I'm sure it will.
12:46Yeah.
12:47Yeah.
12:47Yeah.
12:48I met with Kathi Chidambra just now, we were having breakfast and he called you a reels
12:53politician.
12:54How do you respond to that?
12:56I would like to ask you, where is he?
13:00Isn't he the member of parliament who was elected by this very people of this constituency?
13:08Is he with us in the past?
13:11Of course, nowhere to be seen.
13:14That's the reason we are here.
13:16If he would have done his job, well, why are we?
13:19Yeah, you can say that the job of the member of the parliament is to sit in the parliament
13:24and you know, do things.
13:25Yes, of course, that's your job.
13:26But rest of the time you have to spend in the constituency listening to the pain of the
13:32people and need of the people.
13:34When did you ever do that in the past years?
13:36It's a tough contest in Karekudi, you know, everyone's saying it's four-cornered.
13:42Difficult for you, you know, you have to make your mark for the party, for yourself.
13:46It's a bit of a challenging seat.
13:49I really don't think so, because as my leader says, it's a two-corner, clear two-corner fight
13:57in every constituency.
13:59So here then between you and the congress camp?
14:03Yes, that's the DMK alliance, yes.
14:05Yes, yes.
14:06I think that's the fact.
14:07You don't think Seaman, you know, he's still the leader of a party.
14:11He's also, like you, quite popular in social media.
14:14It's not just about the popularity, like how in every stage where my leader spoke, he very
14:22clearly mentioned the fight is between TVK and DMK.
14:27So that's the same thing happening here.
14:28I can see that.
14:30Interesting.
14:30All the very best to you.
14:32And I will continue watching out for you on social media because I definitely did enjoy
14:36watching all of your content.
14:37So congratulations on that.
14:38All the best.
14:45So Congress, confident of holding on to their citadel and the TVK hoping to cause an upset.
14:56But the other big contenders are up next.
15:02NDA has fielded an AMMK candidate.
15:04Local, Terpoki Pandi is squaring off against the three rivals.
15:16DMK versus NDA.
15:18There's no one else involved.
15:20There's no one else involved.
15:20TVK, NTK.
15:21There's no one.
15:23There's no one.
15:26There's no one.
15:27There's no one.
15:28They'll cut into your votes.
15:29No.
15:31There's no one.
15:32There's no one.
15:32There's no one.
15:33You said it's a DMK versus NDA battle.
15:39But DMK is a little stronger than the NDA battle.
15:46A little bit.
15:47Tomorrow, I'll ask a question.
15:55I don't have to know any others who come and there.
16:04There's no one.
16:05I'm sure there's no one.
16:06There's no one.
16:06I don't think that's the one.
16:07I don't think that's the case.
16:07Some interesting fact.
16:11It's been a conversation for DMK.
16:12AIDM is a congress.
16:13AIDM is a Amamaka.
16:16So there is a difference.
16:18It has been an alliance fight.
16:20Actually, I think we're all alliance people.
16:23We are all ADM people.
16:25We are all ADM people.
16:28I'm proud of.
16:30We are all ADM people.
16:33So we're all ADM people.
16:36So that's the issue.
16:47Kare Kudi is headed for a battle royale.
16:50But we take a couple of minutes out of a busy few days in the constituency
16:53to feast on some Chettynath delicacies.
17:05So this is a typical Chettynath welcome for you.
17:08Kare Kudi, if you are from Tamil Nadu,
17:10you would have already guessed just looking at what I have on my leave.
17:13I'll just give you a glimpse of what a daily, every day,
17:16and I'm not making this up,
17:17but this is what an everyday lunch looks like
17:19in a place like Kare Kudi, in a Chettynath household.
17:22You'll have biryani.
17:23You'll have a bit of chicken curry.
17:25Sweet, of course.
17:26There's mutton.
17:27There's chicken.
17:29There's crab.
17:31Egg.
17:31Fish.
17:32So essentially it's a full plate of non-veged Chettynath indulgence.
17:37And like I said, this is what a daily normal meal looks like.
17:41I'm going to dig in.
17:42But right after that,
17:43we're going to get you some political action as well.
17:49On to the next.
17:50We head to one of my favourite spots in Kare Kudi.
18:08Ok, so we've been on the campaign trail of Siman.
18:11We've never actually managed to catch him
18:13because he's been travelling from one location to another.
18:16We've been waiting from 4 o'clock.
18:19It's now 7.30 here.
18:20And we're expecting that he'll come in another 30 minutes.
18:23But people still waiting patiently.
18:25You can see empty chairs around me.
18:26But just wait for a couple of minutes
18:28and you'll see the entire area packed.
18:30But I want to address another question here.
18:31Why have we chosen to come to an NTK rally,
18:34especially because the Nam Tamirakachi is a party
18:36maybe you've never really heard of
18:38because the national media has never spoken about this party.
18:41I'll highlight a couple of figures for you.
18:44Siman's NTK came in third in the 2021 elections
18:47with a 7% vote share.
18:50Not a single seat,
18:51but he created a dent and quite a bit of buzz.
18:58Here's what makes the NTK particularly interesting
19:01and what makes it interesting
19:03that they actually came at the number three place in 2021.
19:06It's because of what they stand for.
19:07What am I talking about?
19:08I got one of these.
19:10It's what all the supporters are wearing
19:11for the campaign before Siman arrives.
19:14There's a picture of him, of course.
19:15Written in Tamil is Nam Tamirakachi.
19:18That's the name of his party.
19:19There's a picture of a farmer
19:20because they also stand for farming rights
19:22and for farmers.
19:23So it's written there as Vivasai,
19:25which means farming essentially.
19:27The party's symbol is a tiger.
19:31And I'll explain to you why.
19:32Because you've flipped this around
19:34and the picture that comes up
19:36is that of LTTE chief Prabhakaran.
19:39This is in mainstream politics in Tamil Nadu.
19:42And this is what NTK stands for.
19:45Very publicly, very openly
19:46and as a sea of support.
19:48And that to you gives you a sense of really
19:51what the sentiment of some people
19:54in Tamil Nadu really is on LTTE,
19:57on Sri Lankan Tamers.
20:12There is the question about backing someone
20:14like a Prabhakaran.
20:16A Prabhakaran is also not an extremist.
20:17He's not a terrorist.
20:18He struggled to save his people.
20:21To save his people.
20:22He didn't kill any single...
20:24He resorted to violence means...
20:26Violence means...
20:27Violence against violence is not violence.
20:30Violence against violence is not violence.
20:33See, I can't bar the thing happening on me.
20:36I can't bend and bend and go
20:37in a person sitting.
20:39I have to respond for that.
20:40So what do you call the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi?
20:43See, that is...
20:44We told that.
20:44It's not been proved.
20:45No, he has told it's a sorrowful incident.
20:49That's what our leader told.
20:50It's a sorrowful incident.
20:52So now we don't need that.
20:53What are you saying about this?
20:56I don't want to know that
20:57I don't want to know this.
20:57I'm not a civilian person.
21:01We don't want to be sick.
21:04I don't want to know this.
21:05People are going back in this situation.
21:10Of course they can pass on.
21:10You will walk away.
21:11What do you want to do?
21:13Because they can just tally...
21:14That's what I do.
21:16Whatever that's called...
21:16I have to call it.
21:17You can find the현.
21:18I have to find it.
21:19jean-go-go- Progressive.
21:33More people gather. The flags are up, speeches are on. It's an agonizingly long wait for
21:39my team. And finally, Seaman arrives. With a deadline to meet, we go up to him for a quick
21:51hello and he heads up onto the stage.
21:58So we've now spent, what, six, seven hours on Seaman's trail. We finally caught him,
22:05good news, I guess. The silver lining, if you will. He's speaking right now. We're listening
22:09to his speech, very animated. You know, the crowds have kind of swelled up. They're reacting,
22:14emoting to what he's saying. It's 9.40. 10 o'clock, lights out because he's got permission
22:21right up till 10. So I'm really, really counting in the next 20 minutes we get our interview.
22:27I'm someone who sleeps at 9. So this is torture for me. We're waiting. Fingers crossed.
22:32And then a speech I've never seen before by a politician. With a PowerPoint presentation,
22:38he's full of emotion, triggering waves of applause.
22:45And at 10 p.m., we finally catch up with Seaman. He's nearly lost his voice, but not his fire.
22:54We have a very interesting speech. We have a question for our national audience, sir.
22:59What's your ideology?
23:02Traved in ideology? High-wing ideology? Left-wing?
23:07Left-wing?
23:19Not a natural, not a true. That's an imagination.
23:25You can say, you are Tamil.
23:27The people are Tamil.
23:29They are culture, language, culture.
23:33They are all good.
23:34They are all good.
23:36This is a good thing.
23:38That's a tragedy modals.
23:40That's a bad thing.
23:44Travada Modals, Free Scheme,
23:47Saluhai, Pornas, Manium.
23:49Yeah, it's not the cure.
23:51Corruption, collection, commission.
23:54Where are you now?
23:57This is where?
23:57That's different?
23:59No other way.
24:00It's different, the text.
24:03The text will read the text
24:06The text tells the text,
24:07the text tells the text.
24:08Here's corrupts.
24:10Here's murder.
24:12Here's rape.
24:14What is this?
24:17No, sir. Why are you different? What are you offering?
24:22Different is that, for 300 years, I was able to do this.
24:30This is the first idea. No free scheme.
24:34Only education, medical, drinking water. Only free.
24:37You said education. You have a Tamil first approach.
24:41English is second.
24:42English is second. Now you are French. No problem.
24:47English is a language.
24:50In Tamil, there is no policy.
24:53There is no policy.
24:54There is no policy.
24:55There is no policy.
24:56There is no policy.
24:56There is no policy.
24:57There is no policy.
25:08Hindi, Spanish, French. Any one language.
25:13English is the full world.
25:15There is no policy.
25:17In the European Union, there is no policy.
25:19In China, there is no policy.
25:22In the French, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway.
25:28There are no English.
25:28There is no policy.
25:30What do you mean by the German woman?
25:31Do you speak English?
25:33Where do you speak Tamil Nadu from the other people?
25:35Okay, English is English.
25:36It is a language.
25:38We say it.
25:40It is a language.
25:41It will speak English.
25:51No language.
25:53It is not a language.
25:55It's important language.
25:57How do you say jobs?
25:58You also say that you are Tamil first.
26:00I'm Tamil.
26:01I can't teach my language.
26:04I can't teach my language.
26:06In this time, in the corporate life,
26:08I can't teach a producer in Malayali.
26:11They don't have a job here.
26:13Who is there?
26:14They are.
26:15They can teach a job in Malayali.
26:18They can teach a job in Malayali.
26:19I can't teach a job in Malayali.
26:23They can teach a job in Malayali.
26:25They can teach a job in Malayali.
26:26Because, if they become a kid,
26:28they can teach a job in Malayali.
26:30They can teach a job in Malayali.
26:31Another thing,
26:33is you are the king maker?
26:35I am the king. Only one king.
26:38Vijay?
26:40Vijay?
26:46Vijay impact.
26:47Vijay impacted him?
26:48If you see me,
26:51Yes, you are a hero.
26:53A very valuable hero.
26:55Who has two constituents, have a strong seat left there?
26:59If you are a living for a generation of people, we are paying for a white people.
27:04You are confident in one place.
27:07There is no faith in your family.
27:09You are not workers in your own.
27:10Let us start a conversation with two constituents.
27:12When I say that, I have two times and I will do that.
27:14I will go to one and then we will conduct the single constituents.
27:16I will ask this one to tell this one.
27:18I will give you a seat for the NTK.
27:22Definitely.
27:24There is a message.
27:28What?
27:29There is a message.
27:31I will give you a message.
27:33I will give you a message.
27:35Thank you sir.
27:40Okay, 10-15. We got him.
27:42It was worth the wait because you heard there from the NTK.
27:45Very interesting viewers.
27:47You can see the support all around.
27:49Are you not NTK supporters?
27:51Yes.
27:51Yes, ma'am.
27:52Yes.
27:53Yes.
27:54Yes, ma'am.
27:55I am not talking about the showman.
27:58Are you talking about the showman?
28:00They call for Koliath.
28:02This is the showman.
28:03Here is the showman.
28:04There is time now.
28:05Here is a camera.
28:08This is not wrong.
28:11This is not wrong.
28:13It is wrong.
28:14Why are these emails asking?
28:16So how do you do that?
29:06A packed few days in Karekudi.
29:09But you have heard from every party in the fray, this clearly is a battle to watch out for.
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