After being suspended from VCK for his call to end ‘monarchy’ sparked off a debate, VCK’s former deputy general secretary Aadhav Arjuna, 42, said he is keen to continue his journey with Thol Thirumavalavan. In an interview to Julie Mariappan, an unrepentant Arjuna accused DMK of pressuring VCK to sack him and ensure the party chief did not share a stage with actor Vijay. Excerpts:
Your response to your suspension from VCK for six months?
I requested Thirumavalavan to relieve me from the post a month ago. My mindset was the same when I was offered the post. When he (VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan) spoke to me after the book release event, I said I wouldn’t have spoken thus had he been there. I have not yet become a politician to smile in anger. I told him he should not get stressed because of me.
How did you become deputy general secretary of VCK within just a month of joining VCK?
Not a month. I worked for DMK in the 2016, 19, and 21 elections. As a survey showed, there should be dalit consolidation for DMK to win. The DMK gave me an opportunity to handle VCK in 2018. I played a role in bringing VCK on board the DMK alliance. Later, in 2021, DMK wanted to form a majority govt, with a plan to win 190 seats. I spoke to VCK chief, and he signed for six seats.
He (Thiruma) struggled alone to steer VCK and that is when I offered my support to restructure it after assembly election in 2021. I joined the party on his invite. The leadership offered me the post (of deputy general secretary) in 2022 based on my work.
I don’t have any personal fight with DMK or its leaders. All made up stories that I asked CM M K Stalin, Udhayanidhi or Sabareesan for an MP or MLA seat. Even today I have a good relationship with Sabareesan. After DMK’s victory, I waited for six months but realized the narrative was changing. I am not against DMK. Why are mistakes committed by earlier govt being repeated, be it mismanagement or flood management?
Did DMK exert pressure on Thiruma to not participate in the event attended by actor Vijay?
Thirumavalavan cannot be pressured by anyone. He would elicit views from everyone before taking a call. This book was under preparation for more than a year. Attempts were made to invite chief minister M K Stalin and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Vijay accepted the invite. When I checked with our leader, he too thought it was a good move as a non-dalit and film star speaking about Ambedkar.
Then came Vijay’s Vikravandi conference. There were reports in a section of media that two leaders were coming together for an alliance. How can an alliance be formed at a book release event? After I spoke about sharing power, a minister asked VCK chief to sack me. DMK conveyed that CM will not like it if Thiruma participated.
Thiruma finally told me to conduct the event with Vijay. If Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) was alive, he would have taken part.
Did you defy Thiruma’s request to you not to talk about politics at the event?
How would I not talk about politics after so much pressure on me. It is undemocratic to demand my sacking. We are not slaves to anyone. Nobody is big here. A big party is when you secure a vote share of 45% and form a govt.
Are you acting on anyone’s behest to break DMK-VCK alliance?
In fact, I told Thiruma to remove me from the post. My target is not to become a leader. After a farmer grows crops, the wealth is taken by others. I want the farmer to reap the benefits too. That is power sharing.
Can you explain your call to end
“monarchy” in TN?
If a govt does not think about people, policies, and transparency, then it is a monarchy. The monarchical mindset is that none should ask questions. In the case of Rahul Gandhi, his mother could have made him deputy PM. He became leader of the opposition when he came close to 100 seats. He became party president in 2018, failed and resigned immediately. He appointed a dalit as party president.
You once hailed Stalin and Karunanidhi for their ideologies. What changed?
He (Stalin) waited for 40 years. He has been accepted by the opposition too. When we worked (with DMK) as the opposition, we took up the wrongs of the govt. We campaigned against majoritarianism, corruption, sought transparency and strengthened policies. The situation changed after 2021.
Vijay too entered films with the support of his father. Comment?
Profession is different. Politics that decide people’s lives are different.
Are you unhappy that you were not given a seat to contest in 2024?
My focus is assembly and state policies.
Will the Voice of Commons, as a poll strategist, work for AIADMK or any other party?
I have not taken any decision. I plan to talk to my leader. He hoisted a flag three days ago in Madurai, and the revenue department suspended three staff, and an FIR was lodged against 20 VCK cadres. I can’t keep quiet.
