- 7 hours ago
In this special show on the Tamil Nadu assembly election, India Today's Akshita Nandagopal brings this ground report from Virudhunagar as it gears up for the high-stakes electoral battle between DMDK, NTK and AIADMK.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you for listening.
00:34One hour from Madurai is Virdinagar, home to Sivakasi, Kamarajar's birthplace and more.
00:41But we're putting our focus on the Assembly constituency today.
00:45A direct battle between DMDK's Vijay Prabhakaran, the son of late Vijayekand and AIA DMK's Ganeshan.
00:53Also in the fray is a 28-year-old NTK candidate.
00:59Just as we head out, an interesting view catches my attention.
01:04Anna, I'm going to stop here, this photo.
01:09It's very interesting story, I have to show you this.
01:22So when you're in the campaign trail here in Tamil Nadu, one thing you'll notice,
01:26is you can make out which person supports which political party based on their clothes.
01:31What am I talking about?
01:33Let me show you.
01:42So we're in the very popular Ramraj store in Tamil Nadu.
01:45If you've been to Tamil Nadu, you know this is the go-to place for Veshti's, for Lungi's.
01:49Why am I here?
01:50Let me show you something.
01:52What you have on display here is very common in Tamil Nadu.
01:56In election season, it goes, it's completely sold out.
01:58Every person who you meet, you'll be able to tell exactly which party they support, how?
02:03By seeing the lining on their Veshti.
02:05Because that will be the party colors.
02:07I'll show you some.
02:08If you're supporting, let's say, MK style and DMK, this is the one you'll wear with red
02:14and black stripe running right through the lining of the Veshti.
02:17If you support the Allied Congress, you'll have the Congress colors on your Veshti.
02:22Similarly, BJP, National Party is also being represented here.
02:25So again, you have the BJP colors.
02:27And then the AIA-DMK, if you're supporting EPS AIA-DMK, this is the Veshti you'll wear.
02:32Red and black again, but you've got a line of white.
02:35So that's what makes it different from the DMK.
02:37The latest entrant, TVK Vijay.
02:40So it's so common in politics here that even someone who's entered politics and is a new
02:45entrant will have colors and will have these Veshtis.
02:48So for TVK, it's red and yellow.
02:50You've got handkerchiefs with similar colors, election season, it's all about this symbolism.
02:55It's not new in Tamil Nadu.
02:57It's the only state where you'll see this, but it's not new because you'll also see pictures
03:01of their leaders in their pockets.
03:02So yes, in Tamil Nadu, politics is not worn on the sleeve, but on their Veshti.
03:14Crisp white, 325 bucks only.
03:18But it's also in Tamil Nadu, all about how white your Veshti is.
03:23So interestingly, this is of course the DMK pattern, the Dravidian colors of red and black.
03:28It's actually cheaper than the other ones, which means maybe it's maximum in demand.
03:33Okay, newest entrant, TVK, already in the Lungi game, the Veshti game, a little different
03:39from the Dravidian colors.
03:40So you've got red and yellow in this one, which is now the TVK's colors.
03:43But I thought the DMK's Veshti was the cheapest.
03:46This is just about 275 bucks.
03:48You can read into it how you will, whether it's most in demand and so it's cheap or least
03:52in demand.
03:53But this is now the TVK Veshti, the latest in the club.
03:57Okay, so this is the AIA-DMK.
03:59I know it's confusing between DMK and AIA-DMK, but here's the 101 of how to see the Veshti
04:04and identify which party.
04:05DMK will have just these colors, just red and black.
04:08In AIA-DMK, you'll see a strip of white.
04:12I know it's rude to stare, but that's the reality of it.
04:14That's how you make out between the DMK and AIA-DMK.
04:17Price, 325.
04:20And this is the BJP.
04:22So the BJP colors clearly are on the Veshti.
04:25I was a little shocked by the price tag.
04:27It's 1,150 compared to the others, so much more expensive, but then they told me the material
04:31is different.
04:32But then BJP supporters across the country, if you want to show off your political allegiance,
04:37take a cue from Tamil Nadu.
04:39Bye, Ueshti.
04:43Back on the road.
04:45And just as it's about to start pouring, we reach our destination.
05:01Finally, some respite from the heat.
05:03It's actually raining.
05:04I can't believe it.
05:05But we're here in the beautiful, small lanes of Virudhanagar, because we've come to Kamarajar's house,
05:11where he was born, where he was brought up.
05:13Let's go in and relive his journey.
05:16It's one of the biggest icons in Tamil Nadu.
05:42Tug of War of Kamarajar playing Tug of War with legislators.
05:45Imagine something like that happened today.
05:47I mean, in the current election scenario, you have a tug of war with your politicians.
05:52I don't even know what that will play out like.
05:54Quite some amazing photos here.
05:56But I think this is what I find most interesting, some of the items used by Kamarajar.
06:01So you have his toothbrush, pens, his glasses.
06:07All of it preserved so amazingly.
06:11Lovely to see.
06:12Some of his notes, clothes worn by Kamarajar and his suitcase.
06:18So you can see K Kamarajar, Madras written on it.
06:21All of that preserved here.
06:23So his house essentially has been transformed into a in-memory.
06:28These photos of him with school kids.
06:30What was Kamarajar most known for?
06:32For revolutionizing education in the state of Tamil Nadu.
06:35Doing so much because he believed that it was every child's right to be educated.
06:40That's what he's remembered for even today.
06:42That's why he was so loved by the masses.
06:44And that's proof here.
06:46Last journey, a picture.
06:47You see a sea of people in Tamil Nadu.
06:49Tamil Nadu loves its politicians.
06:52Kamarajar was one of them.
06:53Was one of the first, in fact, to be loved so deeply by the people of the state.
07:04Finally, summer is quite from the heat.
07:07Because it's raining unexpectedly.
07:09The only downside is we're walking through the rain because we were just not prepared for it.
07:17Let's go fast.
07:21The weather's of welcome respite.
07:24But we have leaders to meet.
07:25So on to stop one.
07:27Captain Vijay Khan's son, Vijay Prabhakran.
07:31Look, it's pouring.
07:33But we're not stopping our shoot because we can't afford to.
07:37We have limited time.
07:38We're here for our next interview.
07:41With Vijay Khan's son, Vijay Prabhakran who's contesting from Virdinagar.
07:45As you can see, it's pouring.
07:47Relief.
07:48Yes, good change for us.
07:49I hope we get a cup of tea for this interview.
07:52It's perfect for this weather.
07:53Let's go.
08:01Hi, Akshita.
08:02Hi, Mr. Prabhakran.
08:03How are you?
08:03Good.
08:03Welcome to Virdinagar.
08:06You're Uru?
08:06Yes.
08:07It's Namma Uru now.
08:08That's true.
08:09How's it going?
08:09I met you last in 2024.
08:11You can see the rain is welcoming me.
08:12So it's going good, I feel.
08:14This is a welcome change, I think, for all of us from the heat.
08:16It is.
08:17It is.
08:182024 to now, what's changed for you personally, politically?
08:22Are you more experienced?
08:23I feel I'm more experienced and I feel this constituency, people are more welcoming than
08:28to my own, like, my native or something.
08:30So wherever I go the streets, when they see my car, whenever I'm welcoming, people are
08:34like, he's there, he's back, he's back.
08:36So I'm feeling so grateful to come back.
08:39So last week, an MP, it was like six constituents together.
08:42Now it's only just one constituency.
08:43It's more focused.
08:44Yeah, it's more focused and sharp and it's so clear for me now.
08:48I think we'll try to go out into the rain.
08:50Shall we try it?
08:52Yeah, because election, it's hard working.
08:54Yeah.
08:54So let's, we just saw the sun, let's see some of the rain also.
08:57Yeah.
08:57Let's go.
08:58I think we'll get a cup of tea also.
09:00Yes, yes, yes.
09:08So the last time I ran in 2024 when I met you, you were pegged as a front runner.
09:12Yeah.
09:12You lost by 4,000 votes.
09:14Yes.
09:14Was that hard?
09:15Was that very difficult to swallow?
09:16It is a difficult moment when it comes to very such a close call.
09:20And I had a heart to energy to balance it.
09:26But still, all the political party, the cadres, and no one could digest it.
09:32And once I'm back this time to Gurdunagar, and everyone are like, the first thing they told me was like,
09:38this time you're winning for sure.
09:40There are no hanky-panky at the last moment, you're winning for sure.
09:44Yeah.
09:45And those words came from the temple where I started.
09:48So I felt with heartwarming and heart touching that moment.
09:51And wherever they go in the streets of Gurdunagar, people are so supportive for me.
09:55And they feel like my own son who is counting the election, they are welcoming me.
10:00Though I'm not from this constituency, but my native is from this constituency.
10:06My dad is from here.
10:09And those things are connecting my dots.
10:13And I can see that.
10:14You can see the love.
10:15You can feel the love.
10:16Yes.
10:17This time it's a little different also in alliances.
10:20You're with the DMK this time.
10:21I think last time you lost to the Congress.
10:23So this time you're all on one side.
10:25One side, yeah.
10:25How is that working?
10:26Why did you choose to ally with the DMK?
10:28I want to understand that.
10:29Because you know, DMDK I think was in demand from both sides.
10:31Yeah.
10:33DMDK is always in demand.
10:34But to be honest, this alliance should have been formed 10 years back during Captain and Kalenga.
10:40Around 2016.
10:43But it was a late call now.
10:45There's something like a late call with the DMDK alliance.
10:50And this is, it's like no one expected this alliance to be formed.
10:54And, but most likely this alliance mainly was formed because of the cadres of the DMDK that
11:01more than us from the head.
11:05Because, before the election our General Secretary Ms. Kremlath of Jay Khan had kept an outing
11:11among the, among a party.
11:14Which alliance should we go this time?
11:16Which should be ADMK or should be DMDK?
11:18And 80% of the cadres from our party selected that we have to go to DMDK.
11:24This time.
11:25So it's their choice that we have taken this choice.
11:28Because we are here for them.
11:30More than here for us.
11:32So it's their choice who they wanted to come to DMK.
11:34And that's one of the main reasons we have taken this alliance this time.
11:37And I feel it is a victory alliance.
11:39So there are bitter and sweet facets between both and person life between DMDK and DMK.
11:45But this is politics.
11:46I think we should lift up our shoulders and head, make it sharp, make it clear.
11:49End of the election we talk only about the winning and losing.
11:53So I feel that's the same point.
11:55Can I just talk also about, you know, your father's legacy.
11:58Yeah.
11:59And the pressure of carrying that forward.
12:01This time you've got one more entrant in politics who is claiming your father's legacy.
12:05Vijay.
12:05He's been constantly referring to Captain, referring to his style of politics, talking of how he admires him.
12:10Yeah.
12:12Is that a challenge?
12:13How do you see that?
12:16Yeah.
12:16Definitely.
12:17Because it's also similar path, no?
12:18Of superstar into politics, all of that.
12:21Definitely Vijayanna has been introduced by Vijay Khan.
12:26There are no doubts in that, that entire Tamil Nadu knows.
12:29And now after coming to politics, you know, whoever they might claim they are new or whatever this,
12:35but even has some selfishness.
12:38So after coming to politics, they have so much of screaming about Captain, Captain is their blood.
12:42Yeah, yeah.
12:43And we can't stop that because Vijay Khan is a neutral leader.
12:47He's Tamil Nadu's leader.
12:48Everyone likes him.
12:49Everyone loves him.
12:50We are glad that Vijayanna likes him and his followers following Captain as well.
12:55But it's definitely a challenge for us because 20 years back when DMDK started,
13:00it was the same when Captain stepped into politics.
13:03And now when Vijayanna is stepping also, yes, all the youngsters are going behind him.
13:06We have a huge fan following.
13:08I'm not denying that.
13:10But we have to see how he's sustaining, how he's going forward.
13:13Why didn't you consider, quite openly I'll ask you, an alliance with the TVK?
13:17No, this is the question even I'm thinking.
13:20Hmm?
13:20No, no, no.
13:21That's not like what I'm telling.
13:23Like all the cadders of TVK cadders are getting angry on us.
13:26That why didn't we consider?
13:27Yeah.
13:27That's a very basic line in political rule.
13:30If you're going to be the head of the alliance, you have to start the conversation.
13:35It's a basic thing, right?
13:37So you're saying TVK didn't…
13:38No, they never asked us.
13:39They just used Captain's name on the meeting.
13:41They never came and asked us, can you come and join.
13:44Then after the election, no one is joining means who will go?
13:46See, that's basic, simple…
13:47Because they say that everyone came to us.
13:50You didn't go to them, you said you come to us.
13:52No, it's not like…
13:53See, if they have a strategy, if they…
13:56We have a strategy.
13:57Because we are 20 years, we have a strategy.
13:58If they are new and if they have a strategy,
14:00then they have to come forward and they should start the work, right?
14:03Let it be BJP, Congress, DMK, ADMK, whatever it is, they have…
14:08They do the strategy.
14:09Like we are the DMK, DMK started talking with us.
14:12ADMK, they started talking with us.
14:13It's how all the big political parties will talk to all the small parties.
14:18Yeah, yeah.
14:18And get them in.
14:19It's not just us.
14:20All the parties are involved.
14:21So like when TVK is a new party and they are going to start…
14:25And they want an alliance, we feel they should start.
14:28They should reach out.
14:29Yeah, they should…
14:30Because it's an open book secret,
14:32and Viziana is not able to reach out.
14:34And other people, like, we don't know because they all are new.
14:37So who should we go?
14:38Because we are a 20-year-old party.
14:40We can't just go down the lane.
14:41Yeah.
14:42So it's on both ends.
14:44So these cadres, they think that we are not going with TVK,
14:46because it's their thing also.
14:47Like, you know, when you want to start an alliance,
14:49like, they should come and start an alliance.
14:51They should come and form.
14:52Did you congratulate BJP?
14:54Yes, yes, yes.
14:55And after that, nothing good?
14:56I spoke to him and we invited him for Captain's Guru Puja,
14:59which he didn't turn to come out.
15:01And he called for my birthday and he wished me I called for his birthday.
15:05All the personal, even my mom used to call him…
15:07So all that is civil everything, but no question of alliance.
15:09Yeah, yeah.
15:10Interesting, interesting.
15:11It is like that.
15:12So they can't just blame us.
15:14When they're pointing the finger at us, even the three fingers are pointing at them.
15:18They should take the blame as well.
15:18When I went to Vijay Rally, most of them said we're Captain fans.
15:21Yeah.
15:21We're Captain fans.
15:22Thanks.
15:23Does that hurt the DMDK?
15:25No, they are…
15:25And your chances?
15:26You know, you're the air.
15:27You're the air of his legacy.
15:28Real Captain fans won't go to TVK.
15:30Won't go?
15:30Real DMDK, real Captain fans will stick to DMDK.
15:33They are just trying to migrate the oaths of Captain fans saying like that.
15:38Which is now still they're doing the same.
15:39Yeah.
15:40They're still doing the same, but like I said, this is the first time I'm talking about
15:44this election and I'm out.
15:45All this I want to talk over the political rallies, but I'm starting…
15:51They caught you first.
15:51Yeah, you caught me first and I'm just giving it to you all now.
15:54I'm glad.
15:55I'm glad you've spoken out because I think there was all of these questions and you've
15:58been very candid in kind of telling us what played out behind the scenes.
16:02I think we needed that because as far as the TVK goes, we don't know what happened.
16:05Yeah, that's right.
16:06I think the DMDK is being very transparent.
16:07Yes.
16:08Which is good to see.
16:09So since you told us about the ties you have with Vijay, let's say in a scenario that
16:13post-elections, the alliance needs TVK support.
16:19Will you be the bridge?
16:22Which alliance needs TVK support?
16:24If the DMK alliance needs TVK support?
16:27Before that question, we have another thing.
16:29Like first, TVK should grab at least one MLA or something.
16:32Couple of MLA's.
16:33They should have the numbers.
16:34Yes.
16:35If they have the numbers and if that's a situation, then it's not in our hands.
16:39It is DMK's hands.
16:40Like we can't ask for that.
16:41Because we are one of the political parties.
16:44So you won't be a mediator.
16:45If DMK asks you too.
16:47No, like more than us, even they are close.
16:50Udayana and Vijayana are also close.
16:52We don't have to be a mediator for that.
16:54They can talk to themselves.
16:55They can speak on their own.
16:56Yes.
16:57DMDK should don't have to be a mouthpiece for them.
16:59Right.
16:59They can talk to themselves.
17:00But before you ask, they should get the numbers first.
17:04That's a big thing.
17:05Thank you for joining us.
17:06All the very best for your campaign.
17:07We'll hopefully catch up before the next election.
17:10Definitely.
17:10And have a conversation.
17:11Thank you so much for joining us.
17:12I think the rain is done.
17:13Yeah.
17:13The rain has stopped.
17:14Perfect timing.
17:15Perfect timing.
17:15Thank you so much.
17:20We then head to the NTK candidates campaign.
17:24Small crowd.
17:25Big messaging.
17:26All of 28, he's taking on the giants in Virdanagar.
17:46It's so refreshing to see.
17:53We'll see you soon.
17:55Usually, you'll see a congress, DMK stronghold.
17:59No.
18:00No.
18:00No.
18:01No.
18:05No.
18:05No.
18:08No.
18:18memorizing.
18:21No.
18:33No.
18:36I think that it is something I think.
18:40Who is your first competition in the Virdhina?
18:45I think there are two competition on the Virdhina.
18:48If I'm not the one who is the one who is the leader,
18:53I think there are two competing in the Virdhina.
18:58I think it's the only one.
19:16But the big battle is between DMDK and AIA-DMK.
19:21The parties fielded local businessman Ganeshan as their candidate.
19:25So here in Virudhunagar, we're catching up also with the AIA-DMK candidate.
19:30Mr. Ganeshan is here, sir.
19:32We've seen a three-cornered contest in Virudhunagar.
19:37Do you think three or two?
19:41Two.
19:43DMDK vs. AIA-DMK.
19:45Do you think that AIA-DMK is challenging in the fight?
19:49Do you think that DMDK is a stronghold?
19:51Do you think that AIA-DMK is a stronghold?
19:53No.
19:54We're not a stronghold.
19:56Why?
19:59We're doing a campaign.
20:01We're doing a general secretary.
20:04We're doing a job.
20:07They're doing a job.
20:08They're doing a job.
20:08They're doing a job.
20:10That's easy.
20:11Vijay Prapakaram, you know, in 2024, he lost by 4,000 votes.
20:17So that's why there's support for him?
20:19Yes.
20:19That's why there's support for him.
20:21We're doing a job.
20:23We're doing a job.
20:25We're doing a job.
20:26We're doing a job.
20:27We're doing a job.
20:31We're doing a job.
20:40We're doing a job.
20:41And we're going to get a job.
20:45We're doing a job.
20:49We'll be getting some jobs that it takes.
20:51You said he's the sailor.
20:53But as soon as you say he came from,
20:55We are here in Madhuri, and we are here in Viridhinagar.
21:00We are here today.
21:02We are here today.
21:04We are here today.
21:05We are here today.
21:06We are here today.
21:12Last interview of the day.
21:14Let's go.
21:16Our last stop for the day is at Viridhinagar MP Manikam Tagore's residence
21:21where he is holding non-stop election meets.
21:29Hello, sir. Hi, sir.
21:30Hello.
21:31Sorry, I am disturbing your full meeting.
21:33How are you doing, sir?
21:35Good. Good, sir.
21:36Can I disrupt your meeting for just 10 minutes of your time?
21:40Yeah, yeah.
21:40Please. Can we sit somewhere?
21:42Yeah.
21:43We are here.
21:44Are you okay?
21:45We are here.
21:46Sorry.
21:49How is the election fever, sir?
21:51I can see you are busy.
21:52Yeah, yeah.
21:52Just return back after the parliament work.
21:54So, Delhi, Madhuri, Chennai, keep travelling.
21:57Madhuri, Delhi, yeah.
21:59And then Viridhinagar, of course.
22:00Yeah, yeah.
22:01So, explain to me, sir, what has been happening with the Congress?
22:04I think everyone has been asking the question about the candidate list,
22:08about whether senior leaders of the party are unhappy.
22:12Straight, sir, are you unhappy?
22:13No, I am not unhappy.
22:15I am...
22:15The candidates were chosen?
22:17No, what Congress, Central Election Committee, whatever it decides, and when Congress President
22:23decides, we all accept it.
22:25We will have our opinion before that.
22:27We will always have our opinion that this candidate is good, that candidate is good.
22:32But when the candidate is selected by the Congress President and by the Central Election Committee,
22:39there is a process in Congress where Pradesh Election Committee meets,
22:43and then the Screening Committee hears our views,
22:47that views are put to the Central Election Committee.
22:50That's a detailed process.
22:52Because, therefore, I don't think that these kind of aberrations will be there,
22:56here and there, voices will be there.
22:57Because we have limited number of seats, and our aspirants are more.
23:03This is a usual pattern which happens.
23:09And other states, we would have reduced that noise in a more organized way,
23:15because we are having only 28 seats, 10 percent, not even 10 percent of the seats,
23:18total seats we are fighting.
23:20We have our issue of the number of seats we are fighting.
23:25And...
23:25And power sharing.
23:27Power sharing, Kage Saab has told that this election is limit.
23:32This election, yeah.
23:32This election, that debate is not...
23:34But the next five years, you will work towards that, if you come to power.
23:38Let us finish this bridge first.
23:40Let us cross this bridge.
23:41Because some of your colleagues have spoken out, sir.
23:43Yeah.
23:44I am talking about what Jyothi Mani has also tweeted.
23:46She said that this is not the list that the Congress leadership wanted.
23:50Essentially suggesting that the state unit leadership there are issues with.
23:54Do you agree with that analysis?
23:56No.
23:57Every individual leaders will have their own opinion.
23:59My opinion is that Central Election Committee's decisions, I, as a Congress worker, accept completely.
24:06Because Congress President is the chairman.
24:09We are...
24:09I have been practiced with the Congress President where Mr. Sonia Gandhi was there.
24:13Then Mr. Rahul Gandhi was Congress President.
24:15Now Mr. Karge is there.
24:16Therefore, I respect the chair as the Congress President.
24:18And whatever decisions are taken, I accept it.
24:21Do you think then that looking at the current scenario, there is so much talk of Vijay, TVK,
24:28and there is talks and conversation, dialogue between TVK and BJP.
24:33Do you think that post-elections that tie-up is inevitable, TVK and NDA?
24:37No, I don't think that that's the media's...
24:40It's our imagination.
24:41It's our imagination.
24:42I take it as a party, TVK as a party, which Mr. Vijay is able to bring in a lot
24:48of youngsters
24:49who have not believed in the political system.
24:51I see it that way.
24:52That is, every political new entrant brings some percentage of the votes,
24:57but he is able to bring a lot of youngsters into the political ground itself.
25:03Politics was not...
25:05Before one election, politics was not this debatable word between the age group of 18 to 39, or 30, 35.
25:15Yeah, yeah.
25:16It was just one day affair that you take leave or you just go on a holiday.
25:22Sometimes, yeah.
25:22Many of the ministers believe that they can take a holiday.
25:26It is not our work.
25:28But this, Mr. Vijay exactly has brought in that energy into the elections.
25:32It's a good thing that every decade it happens, and this time it has happened.
25:37Therefore, I feel that it's a good thing that his entry into politics has energized a new set of people
25:44into the political system,
25:45which is good for India, Tamil Nadu's politics.
25:47And I feel that they may have different...
25:50We may be in a different alliance, and we may be fighting different candidates,
25:54we may be supporting candidates.
25:55But to a political democratic system, it's a good thing.
25:59His entry has energized the election atmosphere, and the election atmosphere is going to be...
26:05In a hot summer, it is going to be more interesting.
26:09It rained today also, sir.
26:10Yeah.
26:10But you've got very nice words for Vijay.
26:14You know, nothing that's been too critical of him at a time.
26:17And a lot of others are very critical of him.
26:19There's also been a lot of talk that Vijay and Rahul Gandhi share great relations.
26:23As someone who is so close to Rahul Gandhi, is that true?
26:27No, Mr. Gandhi met Mr. Vijay long back in 2010.
26:32After that, I don't think that they had meetings with him.
26:35There was some conversation that happened.
26:36There was a conversation between when the Karoor tragedy happened,
26:40and Rahul Gandhiji as a leader, who always takes care of Tamil Nadu's problems in a very sensible way,
26:47spoke to the Honorable Chief Minister Mr. Stalin, as well as he informed Mr. Stalin that he's going to call
26:52Mr. Vijay,
26:52and that he consoled Mr. Vijay because Mr. Vijay's party people only died.
26:59And those people who came to see him only lost their lives.
27:03Therefore, Mr. Gandhi had a humane touch to that conversation.
27:09After that, I don't think that they have any conversation with others,
27:12but because we are into a very different situation now.
27:16We are having a political alliance.
27:17The alliance has been continuing for us for 22 years.
27:20Our alliance with the DMK continues.
27:23But, you know, when Rahul Gandhi is so popular in Tamil Nadu, sir,
27:27why is it that the Congress doesn't think big, doesn't aim bigger?
27:30You know, the last time the Congress truly stood on their own in Tamil Nadu was during Kamarajar's time.
27:36After that, it's always been second fiddle to the DMK.
27:39Is it time for that to change?
27:41Why is the Congress not ambitious enough to stand on their own in Tamil Nadu?
27:45I can say that for both the national parties, the BJP and the Congress.
27:47At last, we have to win elections.
27:50The main thing is that winning elections, your leader popularity is 75%
27:54and your party is at 5-7% as the party percentage of votes.
28:00Therefore, there is a mismatch between 7% and 75% of the leader.
28:04And therefore, BJP from some states are able to match with that thing.
28:10So, Modi's popularity in Bengal or Uttar Pradesh, they are able to match with their organizational capabilities
28:16and do that thing.
28:28Yeah.
28:29Therefore, I am one of those people who believe that we should take steps to think that way
28:36that we should… how to reach out to those supporters of Mr. Gandhi who can support…
28:43who can start supporting Congress.
28:44Okay.
28:45All the very best to you, sir, for Virda Nagar and for Tamil Nadu as a whole.
28:48You have, I know, a whole lot of responsibilities on your shoulders as well.
28:51Thank you very much for your time.
28:53Thank you so much.
28:53I won't keep you all waiting, sir.
28:55Thank you so much.
28:56Thank you, sorry.
29:02So, that's the end of the Virda Nagar shoot.
29:04But I think I've seen an important takeaway really from this which is that there are no
29:12permanent allies, no permanent enemies either in politics.
29:15Because what you're going to see in Virda Nagar is a battle where two leaders who squared
29:20off before in 2024 are now allies.
29:24So, you'll have that leader campaigning for the candidate.
29:27But it's a young blood battle which is what makes Virda Nagar so interesting and it's
29:31so close to Madurai that this is a seat that I'm sure will also become a national talking
29:37for it ultimately.
29:38A 28-year-old versus a 33-year-old and then you have also a senior AIA DMK leader.
29:43So, let's see how it pans out.
Comments