TN Assembly polls | 10.5% quota for Vanniyars a provisional association, says Panneerselvam

Taking day off from his marketing campaign in Bodinayakkanur the place he’s contesting for the third successive time, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, on Monday asserted that the ten.5% reservation for Vanniyakula Kshatriyas inside 20% quota for Most Backward Classes was “only a provisional arrangement.” After an official panel, entrusted with the duty of compiling knowledge on castes, carried out a caste-wise census and submitted its report, castes coated beneath the 20% quota could be given reservation in proportion to their inhabitants. “A law will be enacted in this regard,” he identified.

In a freewheeling interview, the 70-year-old AIADMK chief additionally touched upon different points akin to any change in his place on the Sasikala issue, prospects of the AIADMK-led alliance within the election and the DMK’s cost towards his celebration being a “B” crew of the BJP. Edited excerpts:

What is your tackle the ten.5% quota for Vanniya Kulashatriyas ?

Prior to creating the demand on inside reservation, Vanniyars had solely sought a caste-wise census. A authorities order was issued, following which a fee had been arrange beneath the chairmanship of a [retired] decide of [the Madras] High Court. So, that work has begun. The Supreme Court’s ruling is that if inside reservation is to be given in a State, this needs to be finished on the premise of the current inhabitants and after a caste-wise census. It may be very clear that the quota system can’t have the previous knowledge of the inhabitants as the premise. Both the Chief Minister and myself had defined the authorized place to representatives of Vanniyars. But what they’d replied was that some quantum be given to them on a provisional foundation. They had additionally agreed that on completion of the census, the quantum, which might be labored out in proportion to their inhabitants throughout the 20% quota [for Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities], could be the everlasting one. So, the current order is barely provisional. Once the caste-wise census is over, there can be a closing and everlasting order. This is the crux of the matter.

The 10/.5% quota just isn’t a closing resolution. It might go up or down in proportion to the inhabitants. For the castes coated beneath the 20% quota, the reservation can be supplied to them proportionately after the fee, set as much as maintain the caste-wise census, submits its report. A regulation can be enacted on this regard.

Could not you’ve got waited for the election to be over?

We had initially informed them [Vanniyars’ representatives] that the interior reservation might be given after the caste sensible census. But, they together with PMK chief S. Ramadoss wished a provisional association to be labored out first. Also, they conveyed to us that allow there be a closing one after the census.

Is there any sense of anger or disappointment amongst de-notified communities together with Piramalai Kallars on this situation?

Not solely de-notified communities but in addition the Most Backward Classes are coated beneath the 20% quota scheme. There are 98 castes beneath this. Piramalai Kallars, Maravars and a small part of Kallars are there. Agamudaiyars should not there. Piramalai Kallars reside predominantly in Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts whereas Maravars are in Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi.

The De-Notified communities have been given 7% and different Most Backward Classes, 2.5% All that is solely momentary. There is not any want to think about it like a grave offence.

What are the prospects of your entrance within the election? The findings of a number of opinion polls have been opposed to you.

The opinion polls are being made as per the stand of those that conduct them. As far as we’re involved, we’ve been implementing all of the schemes of Amma [Jayalalithaa] with none shortcoming. We are finishing up further schemes too for the welfare of the folks. There is a widespread goodwill among the many public that our authorities instantly resolves folks’s issues as and after they come up. We have been functioning as a authorities that retains solely the pursuits of individuals and the State in thoughts, which is the way in which proven by Amma. We will rating a huge victory.

There is a view in sure quarters that there’s a lack of cohesion inside your celebration and lack of cooperation between the celebration and your allies.

No, I don’t agree. It just isn’t correct to make such criticism. All our ties are cordial and there’s no place for variations of opinion.

DMK has been operating the marketing campaign towards your celebration on two counts – corruption and being subservient to the BJP or the Central authorities. What is your response?

DMK has no ethical authority to talk about corruption. The BJP, which got here to energy on the Centre in 2014, accomplished its full time period in 2019, and now continues to be in energy after successful the folks’s mandate and getting a majority [in Parliament]. There is an alliance between a good authorities on the Centre and a good authorities within the State. How can this be portrayed as a large crime? It is by no means acceptable. Actually, our alliance is an alliance for folks’s welfare. That is how the folks view our relationship.

You got here out overtly in [February] 2017, which you reiterated in an interview to The Puucho in December 2018, that there needs to be no domination of any single household over the affairs of the celebration. But your latest statements give the impression that you’re now for reconciliation with [former AIADMK general secretary V.K. ]Sasikala and [AMMK founder T.T.V.] Dhinakaran.

Both have been within the AIADMK. At current, the AIADMK is functioning in a democratic method. The current set-up of coordinator and co-coordinator throughout the celebration and that of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister within the authorities is happening with out the domination of any single household or a person. Thanks to this set-up which is predicated on a coverage resolution of the celebration, any odd employee in future can develop into coordinator, co-coordinator, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. We have created a scenario whereby the celebration won’t come beneath the management of any single household or a person in future.

Do you imply to say there is no such thing as a change in your place?

Yes. My stand then was that there needs to be no domination of any household over the celebration issues, be it the EPS [Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami] household or OPS [Mr Panneerselvam himself] household. My son, [P. Ravindharanath] has develop into an MP by the assist of individuals. But, if he succeeds me as coordinator, that is referred to as the household politics. Take the case of DMK the place Stalin turned the celebration chief after his father, Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi]. This is what’s the household politics. But, the AIADMK is a celebration of staff. This was how Thalaivar [M.G.Ramachandran] created it. Till the tip, we will make sure that the celebration is carried on as a motion of staff.

Early this month, Ms Sasikala issued a basic enchantment to followers of Jayalalithaa to stop the DMK from coming to energy. Has any try been made on the a part of the celebration to hunt assist of Ms Sasikala particularly for the celebration?

No. There is not any such transfer on both aspect. She had issued a assertion that she would keep away from politics. She is sticking to the place.

Is there any scope for approaching her for the assist in future?

I can not reply to a query of hypothesis.

Your latest assertion that there is no such thing as a “permanent Chief Minister” has given rise to the speak that you’re having a separate plan after the election outcomes. What is your response?

My assertion is predicated on a coverage resolution of the celebration. As far as this election is worried, the celebration basic council had adopted a decision, naming Mr Palaniswami because the candidate for the publish of Chief Minister. Subsequently, I made an announcement to this impact.

Will he develop into the Chief Minister once more if the celebration will get a majority?

Yes. There is not any change.

Why is it that you’re not campaigning in very many constituencies?

No. Apart from my constituency, I’ve coated northern districts akin to Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur and western – Erode, Coimbatore and Tiruppur. I’m planning to go to the south.