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The Rediff Interview/Vaiko

'I can tell you with authority that this government will last and there won't be any problem'

Casually dressed in trousers, with shirt tucked in, Vaiko, aka V Gopalaswamy, looks more like an executive than a politician. No photographs, please -- the Marulamarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam spokesperson insists, even as Vaiko himself seems unruffled at the prospect of being eternalised on celluloid in such atypical attire.

Gopalaswamy had returned to Madras only that morning after imparting classes to his young party's cadres. By night, he was on his way to another place. That was why he was casually dressed when I met him late in the evening.

After a couple of questions, he told Shobha Warrier in his first interview since the AIADMK-BJP confrontation began that he would not speak against Jayalalitha -- leader of the AIADMK front of which the PMK is an important component. So, all the questions about Jayalalitha's behaviour got only lukewarm answers. The true Vaiko emerged only when he spoke on his former mentor DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, DMK MP Murasoli Maran, the need for a review of the Constitution...

You were one of Jayalalitha's biggest critics during her regime. But you chose to be her ally in the 1998 election. Was it a difficult decision for you?

No, not at all. In politics, we criticise each other but then we sort out the differences and forge alliances. Therefore I thought it was prudent on my part to join hands with the AIADMK to fight the family hegemony of Karunanidhi.

Now, will you say that her regime was corruption free?

The matter is before the courts which will have to decide.

Do you now regret the decision to join the AIADMK front?

I don't regret the decision because our party is a democratic forum. We discuss everything threadbare in our party. We take decisions collectively. Whatever decision was taken then was taken after much deliberation.

Are you happy with the way your front leader Jayalalitha is behaving now?

See, when I want to nurture cordiality among the coalition partners, I don't think I could comment on your questions. I will comment only on issues. And not on individuals.

All over India, people feel the BJP government's non-performance is because of the pressure tactics used by your front and the front leader.

I will say that such an allegation is being made by our political opponents, particularly those who are close to the Congress party.

Do you agree that the BJP government is not performing at all?

I don't agree with the view at all. The government is performing well. The misinformation campaign by the Congress and the other political parties, which are opposed to the BJP, say the government is not performing. But I will say the government is performing very well.

Even ordinary people feel the BJP has no time to perform after solving its problems with Jayalalitha.

It is all the creation of the media.

Almost everyday somebody or the other flies down from Delhi to Madras to pacify Jayalalitha...

It is all the creation of newspapers. The good things are not projected. Only problems are magnified.

What, according to you, are the good things done by the BJP government?

Actually on the economic front, the government has made a good beginning. After three, four months, it will be going in the right direction. There will be a boost to the economy.

But recession is still there. Inflation is shooting up...

That is all due to the policies of the previous government, We need some time to set the record straight. I will tell you, in another three to four months, there will be very good signs of improvement. I am confident about this.

Will the BJP government last three four months?

I am sorry about the question. The government will last its full term.

Despite the periodic problems with Jayalalitha and her threats to withdraw support...?

The government will last, that's all I can say. I am not saying just for the sake of arguments. I am telling you with the full knowledge of what is happening and what will happen. So, with authority, I can tell you the government will last and there won't be any problem. The Congress could not even attempt an alternative. That will boomerang on it and it will fail. After the assembly election, Sonia will not be able to carry the masses with her. This is what is going to happen. That is why I am very confident.

What about the frequent threats from Jayalalitha that she would withdraw support, she would review the support, etc?

She will not withdraw support. I will tell you, she will not.

Won't you agree that the government has lost its credibility because of the frequent threats and regular visits to emissaries from Delhi to Madras to pacify her?

If you take into account the record of the previous governments, there were terrible scandals, but they continued. Take the case of the Narasimha Rao government, take the case of the Rajiv Gandhi government... Bofors scandal, submarines deal scandal, Swiss bank accounts, cements scandal.. During the Narasimha Rao govenrment, there were scams. Himalayan scandals were there. Still the governments carried on. But about the BJP government, nobody could raise an accusing finger.

But now the finger has been raised by the BJP's alliance partner, the AIADMK itself.

For that I have given my own explanation. That the tallest leader of the country is Atal Bihari Vajpayee and he is known for his unassailable and unquestionable integrity and honesty and he has got all the qualities of a statesman. So, about the allegations, I feel, it is very unfortunate and over which I am pained.

Do you tell her whenever you meet that this kind of irresponsible behaviour is not good for the country?

You see, as a coalition partner...

But as a senior leader too...

As an ally, we discuss things. There is no question of advising her. We could discuss things. We discuss freely and I express my opinion freely. She listens to it and she respects it. This is my experience with her. She is a very shrewd and intelligent lady and she has got the charisma and command over the party.

Why is it that in all the photographs, she sits like a queen and all of you the alliance partners are...

No, no. It is just your imagination. She sits normally. (laughs)

The Vaiko Interview, continues