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PMK's
flag-bearer
 A simple man, he mingles with everybody. But he is
the man who is going to contest from Chengalpattu on behalf of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in the forthcoming Lok Sabha
elections.
An active Union Minister in the last Vajpayee-led NDA ministry, there was a time when his photo appeared in papers almost every Sunday and Monday. He is also a social worker.
That is A K Moorthy, former Union Minister of State for Railways and Member of Parliament, Chengalpattu constituency.
We met him at his Chennai office. Some excerpts from his interview to
Chennaionline:
PMK did not have any reason to withdraw its support to the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre. Now it has joined the Democratic Progressive Alliance
(DPA).
The reason for the PMK deciding to face the coming Lok Sabha polls with the Democratic Progressive Alliance led by DMK leader Karunanidi in Tamil Nadu is the present political scenario in the State.
 We
(PMK) faced the last state election in alliance with the AIADMK. The welfare of the people was the agenda in that election. That alliance constituted the AIADMK, Congress and PMK. The PMK won in 20 of the 27 places allocated to it.
After winning the election, the AIADMK government did not fulfil its poll agenda and was not working for the welfare of people, so the Congress and Communists withdrew their support to the government. We (PMK) also withdrew our support and after that we had an alliance with the Vajpayee-led NDA government at the
Centre.
We were with the NDA even after the DMK and MDMK withdrew support to the NDA government. But the BJP high command at its Hyderabad congregation openly declared its desire to march forward with the AIADMK for the forethcoming Lok Sabha polls. Due to this, we had to break our tie-up with the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre and have joined hands with the
DPA.
Pondicherry has been allocated to the PMK, but the Pondicherry Congress is not happy with that. Do you think the Congress cadres will work for your party's victory there?
 Karunanidhi, the leader of the DPA, has allotted six Parliamentary constituencies, inclusive of Pondicherry. There was some confusion in the Congress initially, but this has cleared up. The Pondicherry Congress cadres will surely work for our triumph.
About the problems between the PMK and Rajni fans?
Dr Ramadoss is a good friend of Rajinikanth and is not against him but against producers who misguide youngsters. Some newspapers and TV channels create a perception that we are against Rajinikanth, which is not true. Dr Ramadoss has also spoken to Rajni Fans Association chief Satyanarayana regarding this.
There is an allegation regarding the PMK that the party changes its alliance in all elections.
Can you tell me whether any party in India, after 1967, especially the DMK and AIADMK, have stuck to any one particular alliance... So why do you want to blame us in this regard?
How was the cooperation by the Tamil Nadu government for the railway schemes?
The Tamil Nadu government extended full support. Some of the main projects have been completed. I met Chief Minister Jayalalithaa twice and the talks were fruitful. It is noteworthy that the Tamil Nadu government has been providing 50 per cent funds for all
railway schemes.
 What will be your agenda for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls?
I have not spoken anything, but my actions will speak. From the MP fund of Rs 11 crore, I spent 65 per cent for construction of schools. A total of 550 schools were opened. I inaugurated a new school building even on the last day of my tenure.
I will work for the welfare of not only the people of my constituency but also the people in Tamil
Nadu.
The PMK's poll manifesto reflects Moorthy's ideals. It says the party favours reservation for all communities proportionate to their population. It will set up a separate relief fund for workers likely to lose their jobs due to privatisation. Opposing disinvestment in public sector units, it says the factories should be handed over to workers employed in these institutions. It promises to work towards passing of the bill providing for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and the legislatures.
Text and pics by
N Arun Kumar & KT Sri
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