KALAIGNAR AND DRAVIDA
PERAVAI
After I was
suspended by Mr.M.G.Ramachandran "for attending to my personal work", the very
first suspension of the Anna DMK came in for media criticism. "Navasakthi", the
Tamil daily of the Congress[O] led by Thiru.K.Kamaraj condemned my suspension
from the Pondicherry State Anna DMK Convenorship in its editorial. The Statesman
wrote a center page article. I will deal them in another occasion. After my
suspension from Anna DMK on the advice of Thiru.Murasoli Maran, I met
Dr.Kalaignar in his gopalapuram residence. It was decided that myself and my
followers should return to DMK. I sought one month's time. When we rejoined DMK,
the official organ of DMK, Murasoli Tamil daily said: Pondy ADMK merges with
DMK. After throwing me out, Mr.M.G.Ramachandran could not nominate a State
Convener for one year. Immediately he sent a Cinema Director Gopala krishnan as
Convener on deputation from Chennai. For another six months Anagaputhur
Ramalingam was sent from Tamil Nadu on deputation to lead the party in
Pondicherry. I returned to DMK much before Dindigul by election. Since I walked
out of MGR and never went back to him, in spite of his repenting my suspension
and extending invitation, Dr.Kalaignar has unique regard for me.
Pondicherry
Assembly polls 1974 came. Mr.M.O.H.Farook Maricar was the State Convener of DMK.
I was made Propaganda Secretary for that polls.Panruti S.Ramachandran, a
Minister under Kalaignar's cabinet was sent by high command to coordinate
election work. In the selection of candidates I had a big say. Mr.D.Ramachandran
who defected from DMK just 2 months before polls had to face my nominee
K.Rajaram. In Tirumalairayanpattinam constituency V.M.C.Shivashanmuganathan, my
class mate was chosen to contest. During election campaign Dr.Kalaignar came to
a dinner hosted by me. The picture taken with my cousin sisters was after the
dinner past midnight, when he came from Lawspet public meeting. In that election
I was told by Mr.M.O.H.Farook to file nomination for Parliament seat. I filed.
Meanwhile PTR.Palanivelrajan who was practicing politics from Cosmopolitan club
in Chennai came with a new proposal to Kalaignar. The Reddiars association had
at that time decided not to contest against their own caste men. Madurapakkam
Lakshminarayanan, Congress M.P from Tindivanam through PTR Palanivelrajan
offered to sponsor his relative Kodathur Rajaram for Pondicherry Parliament
seat. It was told that pitted against Congress Reddiar, a DMK Reddiar candidate
will break the caste unity of Reddiars association. Dr.Kalaignar summoned me to
Legislative Party office of the DMK in Government estate of Chennai.
Yenya, nee entha
vaguppu ? is the question that came from Kalaignar.In DMK one never ask the
other partymens caste, right from Anna's days we were all moving as one family
and no one knew the caste of the other. This question I described as "en nenjil
thaitha nerunji mull" in later days in one journal. But I have to answer, but
answer without directly mentioning caste. " Naan sathi enral ennevendre teri
yadavan" , this was my reply. He understood. He held my hand and told, you
withdraw from contest, I will give you Rajyasabha seat. Navalar Nedunchezhian,
Professor K.Anbazhagan, Minister P.U.Shanmugam,Minister Panruti
S.Ramachandran, Propaganda Secretary S.Kandappan M.P, Pondicherry Chief Minister
M.O.H.Farook Maricar,Professor M.Elango, Kavignar Karunanandam, Devaraj and
Shanmugam, party office staff, and many others were present when Kalaignar made
this promise.
DMK lost 1974
polls. Only 2 won. M.O.H.Farook and my friend Soundararangan. My another friend
S.Ramasamy who went to the Anna DMK before polls formed the ministry which was
toppled in 21 days. Soon after the electoral defeat I met the press.
PONDY DMK UNIT PLANNING NEW MORAL CAMPAIGN
Pondicherry
April 12:1974 : Mr.N.Nandhivarman Propaganda Secretary of the DMK here told
newsmen yesterday that unless the intelligentia started moulding public opinion
so as to cleanse the present eroded political and electoral systems there was no
way out of the moral crisis that is facing the nation.
He said most
political leaders have lost the moral fibre to undertake this task. The
nefarious practice of personal aggrandizement among politicians has resulted in
the people losing faith in political units. Mr.Nandhivarman felt that people had
to be made politically conscious and political leaders need be moralized.
He said DMK
would embark upon such a campaign for the first time in Pondicherry and hoped
before long Pondicherry would become a model state to others in this
respect.
Referring to
electoral reforms, Mr.Nandhivarman said common platforms had to be provided by
the Election Commission for all contesting candidates. He wanted personal
attacks on platforms to be put to an end and instead criticism leveled against
only political principles or policies.
He was
optimistic that DMK would be a moral force in Pondicherry irrespective of its
poll achievements. [Courtesy : THE MAIL, evening daily from
Chennai]
On
defeat that is what I told. 1974 promises were never kept and I have no regrets.
History will evaluate me.
N.Nandhivarman
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