EXCL: Karti Chidambaram On Tamil Nadu's Religious Identity, Vijay's Politics And Karaikudi Battle

[0:00] to Karayikudi. Great food, amazing beautiful mansions and so much more. But why are we going [0:05] there? For the scintillating four-way political battle. So join me on this journey. [0:27] This promises to be a scintillating four-way battle. Congress's Maangudi versus the AMMK's [0:33] Tirpoki Pandi versus TVK's Dr. Prabhu and finally NTK chief Seeman. In the land of Chetanad, [1:10] but talking about the politics here, this time it gets rather interesting. We're a member of [1:14] parliament, Kathi Chidamram's residents, to understand whether this time for the Congress [1:20] DMK combined, Karayikudi could be a bit of a challenge. You've got new entrants in the race. [1:25] Many are deeming this a four-cornered contest. So is this still a walk in the park for the Congress DMK? [1:30] Shri Kanisha Yanama Higna Haraka [1:39] Manakam, hi sir, how are you? Welcome to Managiri. Thank you, thank you. [1:48] Wow, I'm sorry I've disturbed your morning prayers. No, no, this is just a small [1:52] routine I follow. This is a Vachishti Ganapati temple, which we built here and the proper Kumbab [1:58] Visekam has been done here. So it's a proper temple. Proper temple. Highlight, proper temple. [2:04] Where we follow all rituals and there is a daily puja who comes in and does everything [2:12] as per tradition. So I'm quite religious and I like to follow. Contrary to what they say about [2:18] leaders from Tamil Nadu? That's not true. That's again a big misconception. You know, [2:22] Tamil Nadu is the most Hindu of all states. There is not a single, pretty much most people in Tamil Nadu [2:27] when they leave their house will only before they will go to the puja room and put a little vibhudi [2:31] or kungam before they leave. But I am religious. I am also ritualistic and this is a proper temple [2:36] at home. This is one of my happiest spots in life. I've asked this question also to many other leaders [2:41] in Tamil Nadu and that's because I think when I live in Delhi, it's a question that constantly comes [2:45] to me. I'm sure you get it a lot. If Tamil Nadu is so religious, how does that not seep into politics? [2:51] See, I think people here make a distinction between personal faith and political ideology. [2:57] There is no contradiction. And even the Revidian movement, which is the predominant political [3:03] strain here is not anti-God. It was against a certain social order at that point of time. [3:10] And that is not, there has never been a denial of God or denial for people to go and practice [3:17] their faith as they choose it. There is absolute religious freedom in Tamil Nadu. [3:39] Come, Archita. Thank you. Come have a full [3:42] Chetrinad breakfast. Oh my God. Wow, look at that spread. [3:46] No, no, no. We are known for three things here in this area. One is temples, second is [3:53] grand mansions and third is our food combined with our hospitality. You know, the Virindhombal which they [3:59] say in this area is special. What is that? Virindhombal is the way you treat your guests, how you want. [4:04] So, it's a term. It's like a Virindhombal. The kind of hospitality which we offer and we exhibit here [4:11] is special. See, that is Kavanayarisi. Kavanayarisi is a red rice. It's like a red rice pudding. [4:17] So, is that sweet? It's a sweet. Okay. This is Paya, which is the trotters of lamb. Yeah. That is [4:23] a chicken curry. That is egg aapam. And we have sambar chutney idli. And you have aapam dosa. And we have [4:30] what looks like laddu. No, no. It is like sakravili kalanga. It's like a [4:34] tuber. Yeah, tuber which is making it into a little bit like a colgate. Please, you know, [4:39] you should. I don't know where to start. The food is the highlight. In fact, I always try to promote [4:45] our area with anybody who's a foodie must come here. Should we ruin our meal with some politics? [5:00] Absolutely. Aren't we talking politics? I want to talk about what's happening with [5:04] the Congress. The Congress is not able to kind of grow on their own. I mean, you have a leader [5:09] like Rahul Gandhi, who is popular. No, no. You cannot win state elections. You can't capture [5:14] public imagination with national leaders. You have to have a leader who can capture public [5:20] imagination here. Why hasn't that happened though? There are so many… We have somehow not been able [5:25] to throw up a leader who's got a wide acceptance outside the immediate party circle. [5:31] Which is what I'm asking. Whether you've gotten comfortable in kind of sitting as a secondary [5:35] party in the alliance? No, no. Of course, we are the secondary party in the alliance. [5:39] Yeah, but you've gotten comfortable in that position. The Congress has space to grow in Tamil Nadu. [5:43] But again, we have to project a leader who has the potential to be even considered to be a [5:47] Chief Minister. Until then, we cannot be… Do you think there's someone like that with potential? [5:51] It's not for me to say that. So, ultimately then, what do you think will be the result of this election? [5:58] I think our formation will win the election. Even with Vijay and all of these permissions. [6:02] See, he's a spoiler. In the scenario, let's say, if Vijay gets numbers and he joins the NDA post. [6:07] It's a real speculative thing. I can't see seat conversion for him. [6:10] Yeah, essentially suggesting then that there is no question of an alternative in Tamil Nadu. [6:14] There can be an alternative. There can be an alternative. But once you articulate that alternative [6:18] and bring in the apolitical people and involve them in the conversation and in the decision-making [6:22] and promote people from there. That's not happening. Vijay has not done that. He has not brought in an [6:28] alternative candidate slate here. Those candidates have not proven themselves in public life. Not [6:35] necessarily electoral life or in public thinking before. And neither has he exhibited any kind of [6:40] enthusiasm or curiosity about public policy or engagement. That is what my worry is. Yes, actors [6:45] have succeeded. Jayalitha succeeded. Imjyara succeeded. Jayalitha used to know the names of every district [6:50] secretary, every functionary in a party. MGR built the party. I will be hard pressed to [6:55] Vijay can name his own district secretaries. But he claims to be the next MGR. See, these claims can [7:00] a lot of things to be. I mean, when I was growing up, I thought I'm the next John McEnroe too. You know, [7:05] you could live in fantasy forever. But MGR, his trajectory in politics is very different. He served [7:12] many years. He was in the Congress and he served many, many decades in the DMK before. And he was the [7:17] main propaganda tool for the DMK, was the treasurer of the party, was the MLC, broke from the party, [7:22] started or contested a by-election, won the by-election, then contested the general election, [7:27] then came back. So let's not... And Jayalitha was in the party, party split, she struggled to bring [7:31] the party together. They are leaders who came through struggle. This is a self-appointed party leader of a [7:37] fan club. That's all it is. So focusing now on Karaykudi, would you concede that yes, this time it's a [7:57] four-cornered contest? See, there are four contestants, no doubt about that. But whether [8:02] it will be really a four-cornered contest, we have to see. See, obviously, the strongest candidate [8:09] is our incumbent and our alliance candidate, the Congress candidate, Mangudi. The ADMK alliance has [8:17] put an AMMK candidate. He's contested before. So the real contest is only between both of us. And [8:23] we should win this election. Of course, this is getting a little bit... We have a little bit of a [8:28] publicity hound as a candidate for the TVK. So there is a little bit of social media chatter for [8:33] him. And then we have the eternal Loudmoth Seeman as the fourth candidate. Eternal Loudmoth. Eternal [8:39] Loudmoth Seeman. And also, so it's... So you think it's a four-cornered contest. No, but they are high [8:44] profile names. Like Seeman, for example. He's the chief of his party. He's chosen Karaykudi. He's having [8:49] his rallies where he's always talking about... See, Seeman politics is a Prabhakaran, [8:56] Veerappan, Tamil nationalism, fringe politics. I was surprised, actually, to say very openly. [9:00] There are no takers for that, you know, in a level which will convert into... But rally at [9:05] people. Lots of people. People will come. People will come. I mean, maybe you and I should also have [9:09] a rally and we can see how many people come, you know. See, the point is, first of all, his ideas are [9:14] all gobbledygook. Forget that. I don't want him to get into his ideas. I mean, it's all gobbledygook ideas. [9:20] And, you know, he sort of, you know, taps into this frustrated Tamil nationalist young man's [9:29] sentiment. But, you know, he is not a native of this place. He will for sure lose. You can take it [9:35] in there as a guarantee. Thank you, Seeman.