Kerala CM News | Kerala CM Tussle | India Matters LIVE

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[00:00:00]Others are supposed to be in Delhi which includes people like Murit Dharan and Sudakran who have been influential in matters of Kerala Congress. And the third important thing is of course reaching out to whoever is not happy with the decision. Remember that Vir Satishan supporters have been out on the streets. There's a social media war that's going on. Casey Vopal is supported by MLAs. So that outreach has also is also expected to happen tomorrow. the and there is also this possibility of a surprise candidate in case this tussle doesn't get resolved.

[00:00:30]So overall very critical 24 hours for the Congress party and the party is expected to make a decision soon on this front and the fact that it's taken a whole week tells you why and how complicated this decision really is for the Gandhi on choosing their next Kerala chief minister. Thanks very much for joining me.

[00:00:55]How else to describe it except a full-blown political game of thrones.

[00:01:00]This time in Keralum. Last week it was Tamil Nadu. Now it is in Keralam. And the Congress with multiple power centers battling for the chief minister's chair.

[00:01:09]Rahul Gandhi's closest aid Casey Vinugopal the man in charge of the organization of the Congress as a whole.

[00:01:15]Then there's former leader of the opposition in the state Vidi Satishan, the man who led the entire campaign in Kerala. And then there is old warhorse senior leader Romesh Chennithala.

[00:01:26]They're all three locked in a tussle over who gets to be Mukamantri in Keralam. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi is pushing for Casey Venu Gopal as Congress chief minister in Kerala but faces internal resistance as senior leader and the face of the campaign Vid Satishan has strongly opposed that choice and said he will basically sit out from the government if he is not chief minister. Sources in the Romesh Chanala camp claim he is emerging as the consensus candidate arguing that he's the most senior leader among the three contenders and therefore this may be his last shot at the top post in Kerala.

[00:02:04]Meanwhile, sources close to Vid Satishan say the final call will rest with well who else but Sonia Gandhi stressing that the Congress high command particularly Sonia Gandhi holds veto power in the decision-making process. Right now things are tied. The BJP leaders have slammed the Congress for the delay in this announcement of chief minister and alleged that the Congress is in full confusion mode which is a familiar view given the Congress has been trapped in leadership tussles in the past as well.

[00:02:34]Meanwhile, the Congress has also hit back clarifying that there is no confusion on the choice of chief minister. It will be announced soon.

[00:02:41]Sources like I just told you have told NDTV that by tomorrow evening the suspense will actually end.

[00:02:49]So what does this Keralum game of thrones actually look like? Let me introduce you uh even more intimately to all of the claimments in this Keralum game of thrones. The number one man, the man who led things from the ground, the face of the campaign was Vidi Satishan.

[00:03:05]The second is Casey Venu Gopal who is Rahul Gandhi's second in command, general secretary of the organization, most powerful man apart from the Gandhis in the Congress some would say. And then there is Ramsh Chainala who is one of the oldest and most uh uh uh uh uh long-standing leaders of the Congress party in Kerala. Now the reason why there is an open war rival camps have been staging protests against each other including on social media. There are flex boards and cutouts that have come up in different parts of Kerala projecting one person over the other. So it's like an intimacy in warfare within the three camps of the Congress party.

[00:03:44]There are even street demonstrations which have alarmed the Congress high command forcing Rahul Gandhi to in fact put out a social media post saying we are one Congress and we shouldn't be attacking each other. There's open lobbying and this has embarrassed the Congress party. Rival factions are each pressuring Delhi. They've all got their own independent line to the Gandhis and they are all putting pressure. Which leads us to Rahul Gandhi's dilemma. He holds the final call but if there is a tie then Sonia Gandhi his mother will have to step in. He is upset over this factional street fight which is why he took to social media to call upon Carders of these three waring camps to settle things down be sober and be mature and let the high command decide.

[00:04:29]Leaders have been told to control their supporters.

[00:04:33]Will he pick his aid or will he pick a popular leader appears to be the main question facing Rahul Gandhi. Now the reason for the delay there is no consensus. Why would it take one week to pick a chief minister if there was total clarity and consensus among the high command about who should be the chief minister? There simply is no consensus among the top contenders. The top claimants have dug in their heels. They are not willing to back off. There is a fear of rebellion from the losing camp.

[00:05:02]If Vidi Satishan is not made chief minister, what will his camp do? If Casey Venu Gopal's camp is not made chief minister, what will his camp do?

[00:05:10]And they're all powerful camps trying to avoid a Karnataka style power struggle optics because that's the one thing the Congress can well do without. Another state where you've got leaders waring with each other and signaling to the public that just voted them in that that is their priority. power rather than service which has exposed the Congress now to the BJP's attack which is totally understandable. Even Prime Minister Modi has mocked them saying the Congress is in for leadership paralysis with all these waring factions. They are not united. The delay has been projected as a sign of a weak central command which is why you have these factions having the audacity to actually claim power when it is a high command that should actually be taking these calls without any fear or favor. So the real question now is who will Rahul Gandhi pick? Is Rahul Gandhi in a position to make a clear choice that will be followed without any rebellions? Number one choice Casey Venu Gopal. He's the Congress's general secretary organization or GSO. He's a frontr runner for the top job according to many many observers. He's a very powerful man in the Congress party. Apparently he has 47 of the Congress's 66 MLAs backing him. Therefore, he has a numerical edge in legislature support. Rahul Gandhi's closest aid, his man Friday, his gso almost like an Ahmed Patel-like figure to Sonia Gandhi. Then you've got Vidi Satishan, the affable, cheerful face of the Congress's UDF campaign uh in Keralum. He's leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly. 35 MLAs are backing him. He led the UDF's election campaign, which is why he was the most visible man on the ground. Sources say all UDF allies but not Congress MLAs are backing him. He's ready to remain an MLA if he doesn't become the chief minister.

[00:07:02]He has said no to any ministerial post other than the chief minister. And finally, the oldest of the three is Romesh Chanala, former leader of the opposition, old veteran leader of the Congress party, strong organizational roots, staunch Gandhi family, loyalist, which totally goes in his favor. So who is Rahul Gandhi going to choose? Will he be able to choose by tomorrow? And more importantly, one choice or the other, what are the repercussions on the Congress party? Joining me live now to talk about this in greater detail, Rashid Kiddwai, senior journalist who has just written a brilliant column on ndtv.com. So I uh I suggest all of you go to our website and read that column after this. Shrashta, author and political analyst and my friend Abijit Ayar Mitra, political analyst and commentator. Thanks very much to you for your time uh here on India Matters. Uh Rashid, I'd like to kick it off with you. Uh uh uh great article first of all as always. Uh the sense I get from your piece is that the needle is moving towards KC Venugo Gopal. We don't we won't know for certain till tomorrow Rashid. But am I right in in sensing that that's where the needle is moving towards in your reading?

[00:08:19]>> Yes. This was a very obvious thing but the passage of time things are becoming difficult for Benu Gopali is known as KCB because I think Rahul Gandhi really wanted him. He should have been chosen in the first place when the two observers had gone when the headcount was in his favor. Now a lot of things have come in play. The UDF allies have a view and of course you know Satishan is seen as somebody who who may resist and you know there's the ground level problem. The real problem is actually outside Keralam outside the state of Kerala is about you know the internal disquite or the power equation within the congress. Mr. Casey Benu Gopal has been you know party general secretary in charge of organizations since 2019. He has presented over a lot of downfall of Congress in several states marginalization of many readers.

[00:09:07]So there is a near unanimity in the AIC in that 24 Abar road or Indra bhawan that Mr. Casey Wing Gopal should be shunted out of Delhi to to end up. This is near concern but that's the feeling and sentiment in Delhi in the central high command in the state there are you know few takers because he didn't contest assembly election because he's been away from you know state politics for for a while and because UDF allies don't want him. Rahul Gandhi has tied himself in knots because he is expected Casey Venu Gopal is his favorite but he wants to act as a as a great Democrat and you know the two things are not you know but they don't you know conceal and that is posing a lot of problem for Rahul >> Shubra how difficult a decision is this it's been 8 days after the results that this uh decision will finally be announced by the Congress party why is it so difficult for them in your So I would like to extend the argument that you know Rashid G has mentioned in his article as well. I think the larger crisis within the Congress party is not merely organizational. It is psychological. The party increasingly struggles to accommodate ambitious regional leaders without treating them as potential threats to the high command structure. Now, which is why against the stable centralized leadership model of LDF led by Pinari Vijayen, this Congress needs to present itself not just as an electoral alliance but that of a counter leadership style which is recognizable by by a political sorry by the voters in a political figure.

[00:10:42]>> Now in Kerala this is this is more significant because politics here is intensely leadership oriented. the uh you know the the Kerala Congress despite the state's ideological sophistication of you know the LDF versus UDF fight. So all these leaders that you talked about at the beginning of your of the conversation uh uh shift they all represent different strands within the Congress ecosystem >> and the party has still not been able to resolve whether it's whether it wants generational transition whether it wants organizational continuity or it wants to go for a more personalitydriven campaign sorry camp uh personalitydriven leadership style. So this ambiguity weakens the opposition's ability to convert this anti-incumbency that they you know rode on into a into a governance momentum and of course BJP will weaponize this uncertainty. I mean we Kerala perhaps is the only place now in India that BJP has not been able to make the kind of inroads that it always thought of. So Narendra Modi has repeatedly framed Congress's indecision in certain terminologies and this time it is about leadership paralysis. Yeah.

[00:11:51]>> So I think the question that you're asking asking me is basically about multiple power centers factional balancing delayed decision making. I don't know where it will lead to because Rahul Gandhi and the other members of the you know the Congress leadership they really need to take this head on and and once and for all make it clear to the voters what is exactly that they want in >> no and you know these things are Abi these things are explained away as a problem of plenty there's so much talent in the Congress party but this is a real issue because these factional fights have cost the Congress very dear including in states where they've been powerful look what's happening in Karnataka We've seen Punjab before this, Rajasthan there. You know, we literally have a graphics where we've got literally an endless list of about 11 different instances where factionalism has, you know, damaged the Congress party in the face of a victory. Which way do you think this is moving? You know, if we want to zoom in on Kerala, who do you think the Gandhi want as chief minister Abijit?

[00:12:53]>> So, Shiv, we need to be very clear about this. Factionalism was always there in the Congress. Remember all three Romesh Chan Tala uh uh uh Satisan and Casey they were all in the Karunakaran faction and they were very strong in the Kafaran faction. They used to get along very well at one point of time. The problem has been that Sonia could very easily I mean she not easily but she knew how to control these factions and keep them in check. Rahul does not have that discipline at all. He is very prone to you know uh emotional decisionm without uh calculating the pros and cons. Now let me tell you what the pros and cons right here are. Uh even though Satisan is the one who has led the fight against the CPIM in Kerala. Casey has been sitting it out in Delhi. He is a member of the public accounts committee in parliament where his performance has been zero. I would urge your team to dig up any particular speech or accusation he's ever brought up against the government or made an issue of. His performance has been as lackluster as Satisan's has been spectacular in the Canada in the Kerala assembly. The problem however is Casey Venu Gopal faction has the largest number of MLAs even within the Congress legislative party in the uh uh Kerala assembly. Now here in lies the problem. All of this would have been factored in by Sonia Gandhi. The problem is Sonia has taken a backseat. She's not calling the shots.

[00:14:21]It's entirely Rahul calling the shots.

[00:14:23]And the problem right now is there is nobody to push back against Rahul. You can throw tantrums but once he takes his decision, his decision becomes final. He can't even stick to a decision. You saw this in Karnataka where the position was meant to shift after 2 and 1/2 years.

[00:14:38]>> Yeah. It was who was the loyalist and it was Sidaraya who actually had a different party and come from outside the party yet because you were close to Rahul he chose Sidaraya this is going to be the same thing I suspect it is going to be Casey I suspect we're going to see a lot of internal fighting which is anyway always been the case in Kerala >> no no and Rashid's piece also hints at exactly that and Rashid you know Rahul Gandhi on his personal record also you know has all these instances of taking the wrong decision as far as picking leaders or mismanaging these fights between leaders for chief minister post etc. Uh it's ironic that we are now in a position where uh you know rather than choose the man best suited to govern Kerala and deliver the congress's vision for the state it's about choosing the man who will least damage the party.

[00:15:29]Yeah and that is where I think you know this let me stress for Rahul Gandhi because you know decision to make KCV is our simplest and is easiest he can do it but Rahul Gandhi doesn't want to get the blame and that is where like the cash so now there are two things that are going to happen sh according to my assessment one is that which way Romesh chantala will move so there is a possibility that we suffic and and raves they team up and they say one of us you know but KCV is not acceptable so that is that poses a challenge to Rahul Gandhi. Second thing is Rahul Gandhi likes you know people who make sacrifices. So he may want you know Mr. Casey Vindu Gopal to you know he put him on a loyalty test. So he wants Rahul Gandhi to I mean to withdraw and say that you know then since there is a over me I don't want to be but then there's a bigger problem then how do you accommodate you know Kibopal in the ACC setup and that is where a lot of people want him out. So they're going to create lot of problem. Rahul has to choose between Delhi and this you know secret secretary and that is his biggest worry and challenge. So he you know he's looking for a balancing act which I don't see there is a balancing there is no there is no scope of compromise. So this is a test of Rahul Gandhi's leadership >> you see just you know you five chief ministers are taking oath. I mean in this five round all five have you know have a Congress passed.

[00:16:53]>> Yes. See I mean even Vijay had dogged at the Congress in 2009 and Rahul said you go and fight your youth Congress elections if you go by the Hindustan time report. So air is a thing the congress is a very good leadership factory but in effect everybody goes and become chief minister in other political party would it happen which is sishan in 2013 that's a that's a great point and I think it goes to my next question to shrashtra which is which is that you know rather than just be about a leadership tussle and abijit also hinted at this this is also a signal shrasha towards weakness in the high command that you've got these factions being going so public and so uh aggressive ly you know whether on social media or on the roads or through crowds against each other. It signals weakness in the leadership. It shows you know perhaps some kind of indisipline as well to do it so openly.

[00:17:44]>> U yes I completely agree with Abijit. I would just say that in my opinion there are two leaders where actually Rahul should uh you know uh when when you you you play that game of u you know ping pong ball and then there just just these two leadership styles that he has to understand and maybe take a decision on.

[00:18:03]So Widi Satishan represents the represents the most credible attempt at a modern institutional leadership model in Kerala. His politics has always been anchored in legislative sharpness, issue based opposition, relatively post-factional style I would say and it moves beyond the parties and French groups. Whereas Romesh Romesh Jan Tala embodies that organizational memory and internal architecture of the Congress party. So it is actually on Rahul Gandhi to decide whether he wants experience crossfactional acceptability or he's looking for more you know somebody who can challenge the administrative dominance of Pin Vijay. So there are these two models that he has to take a call on and I'm not very sure I I wanted to limit myself to not taking uh you know pot shots at Rahul Gandhi's leadership style but the problem is somebody who is a part-time politician how do you expect him to take this this kind of a decision >> these are two extremely rooted decisionm uh you know pro classic problem of leadership style and classic problem of of decision-m he needs to sit across both these veterans and negotiate negotiate a power uh uh you know equation of sorts. I don't know if if if he's he's able to do so if he would be able to do so in that possibility of course the the the safest bet is Casey Venuhabad. No and that would be that would be appalling Abhijit because Rahul Gandhi was until you know a couple of years ago a member of parliament from Kerala has always uh uh uh you know talked about his affinity to Kerala and the south in general. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's sister as an MP from Kerala now so you know to to mess up a leadership decision is uh you know looks disproportionately big for them particularly >> but Shiv you should understand that you know their propensity to mess up leadership decisions is truly epic in Punjab you know after the farmers protest that was a state election that was entirely the Congress's to win and what did they do they removed captain at the last minute because of some uh untested commodities were nipping at his heels and they turned what should have been a huge spectacular victory into a spectacular defeat for them. Now them being members of parliament uh they've both been members of parliament from uh both mother and son have been members of parliament from UP. Where is their footprint in UP? Where is their understanding of UP politics? Even after what uh 10 years uh no not 10 7 years as uh cumulatively between brother and sister they can't speak a word of malalam there was that fraa last month I think where somebody used the word achan or something and they couldn't understand what a meant >> now simple things like this they don't get it they lived in a they live in a rarified atmosphere if performance is to be rewarded then it has to go to satisan If intrigue and palace uh uh conspiracies are to be rewarded, it has to go to Casey. So based on that decision itself, you will know what is the skill that is more valued and that is a very important organizational lesson that every single congressman will take away from it is do I need to be actually delivering on the ground >> or can I get my rewards within the Congress party by simply being close to Rahul and being a courtier to him.

[00:21:37]I've got just 30 seconds left. I'll give you the last word Rashid. Uh you know uh uh if as your piece on ndtv.com suggests the needle is moving towards Casey Venu Gopal what would be the repercussions?

[00:21:50]How would the other two react?

[00:21:53]>> Well I think end of the day they all congressman they will you know they may they may say that they will not join ministry for some time they may not but then they'll be co-opted. But my real problem is that you know with BJP making so many overtures in uh in Keralam maybe 2031 things are going to be very different. So Congress and Rahul Gandhi have to choose a leader who will lead the Congress from the front not through manipulation and that is a real test for the for Rahul Gandhi.

[00:22:19]>> All right Rashid Kiddwi Abijay Mitra and Shubrashta great having you thank you very much by this time tomorrow hopefully we'll have the name of the next Keralam chief minister. Thank you all.

[00:22:39]I've just returned from a week in Chennai and what a week it was. Thank you so much for all your comments and your viewership. The political roller coaster that put Vijay in the chief minister's chair was unlike anything Tamil Nadu has seen in a generation. And today's images of Chief Minister Vijay calling on outgoing Chief Minister MK's talent carry more weight and significance than almost anything else in this extraordinary story. As someone who brought you a ringside view of this Chennai Game of Thrones, let me tell you why. Stalin tried, let's be honest about that. his DMK was in deep confabulations and negotiations with his archeneemy, the AIA DMK to try denying Vijay a majority that was within kissing distance of his numbers. And yet one by one, Stalin's own loyal allies, the Congress, VCK, the left, the IUML, all jumped ship and handed Vijay the numbers he needed. You saw it play out like a roller coaster. Except for the Congress, the other parties apparently did so with the DMK's tacit blessings with Stalin's hand on their heads and Vijay knows this. Stalin then broke protocol yesterday, staying away from the swearing in ceremony, a pointed deliberate absence. And yet today there was talent receiving Vijay, sharing an embrace, striking a note of political grace and maturity that many within his own party have conspicuously failed to show. But do not be entirely fooled by the genuine warmth in these images.

[00:24:16]Vijay knows and Stalin knows that the DMK still holds enormous leverage over this newborn Vijay government. Stalin has formally signaled he will wait and watch 6 months patient smiling. The DMK and its leader Stalin could well be a silent assassin to this government according to some biding its time waiting for the Vijay government to trip up. Political graces radiate from these images and they are hard to ignore. But beneath the surface, believe me, the power play has only just begun.

[00:24:51]And just before this broadcast, I happened to speak to Wenut K. Narina, the producer of Janayagan, the blockbuster film that is yet to be released. Take a look at this. Don't miss it. Big headlines in this conversation.

[00:25:09]And joining us live here on NDTV now is Wenut K. Narayana, founder of KVN Films and producer of Janayagan, the blockbuster that hasn't even released yet. Uh Mr. uh Wenutz, good to have you.

[00:25:28]Uh you know, we saw you on the swearing in day as well and I'm going to come to that because that was a uh you know, a signal moment for the beginning of the entire Vijay journey as chief minister.

[00:25:39]But fans of Vijay, fans of yours, Wenut sir are forcing me to make my first question to you this. When is Janon going to release?

[00:25:52]>> Thank you very much. Uh thank you for having me here. Yes, we are all waiting for Jan to hit the theaters. We have a process to follow. We are awaiting the certificate from CBFC and their revision committee also has met some time ago and once they give their final nodu we will immediately take it to the theaters. In fact all fans are asking for the same their request has also been to change the title card from Talabati Vijay to chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Uh when we started the movie I mean we didn't know that we had to go through all this. uh in a way if you see it's a happy uh happy that uh you know Vijay Sur has become chief minister of Tamil Nadu and truly the jeranagon of tien and uh maybe it's destined that this movie has to get released after he becomes a chief minister uh destiny had a different climax so we'll bring it out soon >> you know now that Vijay is the chief minister of Wkert Sura you know tell us and tell fans across India and the Why was this film stopped from release?

[00:26:58]It was cleared. Then someone had a change of heart. Then decisions changed.

[00:27:03]So much has happened behind closed doors or in the shadows. Fans have a right to know why Janigan was not, you know, did not come out before the election was over. What happened?

[00:27:15]So we applied for census certificate uh sometime in December on 18th and examining committee watched the movie and uh in principally they cleared and they informed us that we will get UA6 plus certification and uh subsequently when we are expecting the certificate instead of a certificate we got a mail saying that there is a complaint on the movie and therefore they have to withhold the certificate and refer it to uh the revision commission. uh uh constituting of large number of members >> and we did approach at that point in time a court of law saying that we haven't even released the movie how can there be a complaint and there are also enough judgments saying that public complaint should not be entertained because sensor board is a final authority in taking a decision.

[00:28:04]uh but we learned in the court that uh uh the complainant was one of the uh examining committee members himself who had earlier consented and therefore we had to go to revision committee we didn't apply for revision committee immediately after that in the month of February and since then process has been on and we need to follow law of the land uh to release a movie in the theaters so we await the certificate does Vijay's political victory you know in the election and becoming the chief minister now Wenit feel you know to you personally like a bit of a vindication because it must have been disappointing to not be able to bring the film out for his fans in a timely manner. And now the reality and the truth is that the film didn't need to come out like you said for him to be accepted by the people.

[00:28:49]Maybe it was written in the stars that it should come out after he becomes the chief minister.

[00:28:55]>> True. I mean uh the way we had planned was to bring out the movie into theaters in the month of January during the Pongal time and everybody were looking forward to it. We had planned for grand release worldwide and we did a audio function in Malaysia which saw huge crowds and it was a record uh by itself.

[00:29:14]This was definitely unexpected. Fans were also very disappointed. Uh they were they were angry as well. U but it is uh what it is and uh we we need to follow the process >> but I'm sure uh you know if you see the people of Tamil Nadu have got so much of love and affection on him and they treat him as a family member that's why in spite of whatever the hurdles Janagan has been going through you also have tracked his journey to the CM post he has also gone through a lot of hurdles uh uh you know in spite of all that people have trusted him elected him as a leader to fulfill their aspirations and ambitions and they have huge expectations from him and he also understands the needs of the people have seen him closely the way he functions the way he works and I think he'll definitely bring in a change with time you'll realize that uh he's here to make a big difference in governance and the way politics are done I >> I'm going to come to Vijay in just a moment but I you know just a couple more questions about the Janayagan journey because you know the Vijay Andom as you well know Wenutsur is a you know is a difficult animal to control because of the incredible amount of respect and adoration that they have for Talapati Vijay. So you know when there was all this suspense over Janigan and you know rumors about why it was not coming out and the fingerpointing that take took place. How challenging was it to you know control the emotions of the fans because uh you know this is a kind of love and affection that is difficult to describe and difficult to understand.

[00:30:52]>> No they they were all very emotional even we were u very emotional about the whole thing and we've been talking to each other. I have spoken to uh Vijay sir and regularly been in touch uh uh with his team >> and updating as to what exactly is happening how can we bring out the movie as soon as possible because people were looking forward to at one point in time in fact lot of fans did mention saying that we don't want to visit theaters at all till uh for any movie till Vijas movie comes out >> into theaters it was difficult because they're all as you rightly said very emotional you know Vijas movies were a period of time you you know apart from being pure entertainers with good music and dance also had some elements of you know social welfare social justice >> yes >> uh social aspects and addressing uh quite a few issues >> and so the relatability quotient uh of people with Vijay is very very high >> and uh therefore movie not coming on time was very disappointing for everybody but here we are I'm sure it'll be a blockbuster like the way you mentioning the youth uh took it on them through social media became virtual warriors and in making him victorious and I'm sure they will take this movie also on their shoulders and they'll make it biggest blockbuster ever. you know here wetser here on NDTV we are calling it the most uh anticipated film of the year and like you rightly said whether it is critics whether it is fans whether it is the media they have already labeled it a blockbuster even before its release which is a very rare thing to happen for a film but the question I want to ask you is how did Vijay take the delays and the twists and turns over the film how did he personally handle that he's normally as a person is very calm, composed, not just the movie if you've seen the lot of hurdles that he faced throughout the uh the journey to CM post. Even those he handles in a very calm manner, he stays uh focused uh and disciplined. Yes. Are we affected? Yes. But we need to follow the process. All that we could do, I could do as a producer and his team, we did to bring out the movie as soon as possible into theaters. But it is what it is.

[00:33:08]>> It indeed.

[00:33:10]>> Now, now let's come to the swearing in ceremony. Uh, you know, I was right outside there reporting from 6:00 in the morning until the swearing in was done.

[00:33:18]Wenger, you know, fabulous event. Uh, you know, lots of cinematic elements I would say to the to the swearing in as well, which was very nice to see. It's almost like Vijay was reminding uh you know his incredible audience and the people of Tamil Nadu that I'm the chief minister but remember where I come from as well. What did you make of the swearing in? What did you make of Vijay's you know oathtaking speech? He memorized the whole thing. It was very cinematic, very theatrical, very emotive connecting directly with the people not reading from a paper.

[00:33:51]>> That is what he is sir. He has been an actor a class apart. He will definitely be a leader a class apart.

[00:33:59]>> Okay. He that is that that is him. He stays so focused even in the sets. Uh you know he's always there at 7:00 in the morning. 7:30 is the first shot.

[00:34:09]He's there till 6:00 p.m. in the evening. He hardly goes to even caravan to sit. He'll be sitting there and observing what is happening looking at people. And uh even if you tell him that his shot is at 11:00 a.m., he'll still be on the sets at 7:00 a.m. I mean if he does the same thing in the governance, people will find it very difficult to follow his timing.

[00:34:29]Very very very very uh disciplined and he's you seen him know he's been a disruptor created a people movement and wave now it's about you know fulfilling their needs and the expectations. I am not a a spokesperson for TV is mouthpiece but I'm sure his focus areas will be youth education employment creation social welfare industrial growth and so on and so forth. Uh employment generation will be the key area and growing the economy at a faster pace. You know when when when I and my team from NDTV Wenkuter when we called on Vijay on the 30th of January this year one of the things that struck me and has stayed with me is not only Vijay's humility but also how punctual he was. He met us at the time that he said he would meet us uh you know he gave us exactly the time that he said he would give us uh and that struck me as uh you know as a very nonseleelebrity kind of thing. You know in our world we look at uh especially here in India you know a few hours late for a celebrity is considered very normal. So that humility is something that you know India is coming to terms with and Vijay's incredible fandom and these qualities that you say he demonstrates on set and offset also. Explain that a little bit to us because you've worked so closely with him. Sir definitely what you mentioned humility and being accessible to the people and being considerate towards everybody. He has time, he makes time, he's uh approachable and I said and as I said uh even when it he's known for his dances, the music and dances and most of them are a single take and in fact in this movie coincidentally we had a bit calling it as the last dance uh which lasts for almost one and a half minute and uh with one break he finished in single take and I was there to witness that and the said he's so very focused That's the reason why I am saying he is definitely here to make a difference, give a great governance and his ability to handle things, keep up with time and uh people's person he is >> with time give him because he's new to this movies are different, politics are different, governance is different he has to take people along with him but I'm very confident give some time to settle down.

[00:36:59]>> Yeah.

[00:36:59]>> And he'll be a pathbreaker. And >> you know as as the person who made the uh you know Vijay's final film before his new journey as chief minister you know I'm sure you must be bursting with ideas and anticipation as well about how to tell Vijay's next story. Now he's not going to be available to act in films for a while now. I don't know you know what rules he is setting for himself. So how does a filmmaker tell the next part the janiagan part two as it were?

[00:37:30]>> I mean every move that he's going to make now people will look it as a movie scene and they'll be following uh very very closely and keenly I am not a seasoned movie producer uh neither politician but this is in fact my first movie in Tamil's last movie. I am entrepreneur uh uh and child appointed lawyer but I I liked him so much as an actor and my entire family the moment he said this is the last movie and we wanted to do it and uh and the journey has been great I mean it is uh with some hurdles and then lot of emotions and all of that but uh here we are happy very happy very excited and elated that he got a blockbuster mandate and historic win >> and uh uh we're looking forward forward to the new era, new chapter under his leadership and guidance.

[00:38:22]>> And you know I I like I like what you just said you know the his fans and audiences have been used to watching him on screen. Now you know now that journey is happening in real life in front of uh you know in front of their eyes. One of the peculiar aspects of his campaign Wkerta is that he did not give a single media interview. You know we were very lucky at at NDV. We spent quality time with Vijay. He answered all our questions. no holds barred. But obviously there were no cameras involved when he met him. But he spoke to us very very frankly and that came out as uh uh you know someone who believes that the personal connect the organic kind of messaging that he has been able to achieve through his fandom is more important uh you know than anything else. But a final few questions that I have for you. Tamil Nadu has a legacy Water as you well know of film stars becoming you know blockbuster politicians. I wonder if you have a view about how Vijay will be different from you know the other big film stalwarts who have become big blockbuster politicians. There is Jay Laalita, there is MGR. Uh you know Vijay is very keenly aware of the you know film and politics legacy in Tamil Nadu as well. In your view how will he be different? He will carve his own path. as I mentioned you know he's demonstrated in 30 years of his uh his film career uh as a an actor a class apart he will be a leader class apart no doubt about it because you've seen in the approach itself >> he didn't give you he made use of his fans the social media and they became a virtual warrior the message that he gives to people they take it and and spread it uh you know they created a wave is I was mentioning earlier it's not just uh you know momentum he created movement you know it it looks very magical for people from somebody outside what just happened from being just a real hero to real life hero >> and but there is a vision behind it he's been working hard with his movies he was getting closer to the people connecting with them very well uh including the children they call him fondly as Vijay Mama >> yeah and and Vijayana and Vijay Tambi uh they film is part of a family and that's the reason why all his movies if you see over the years irrespective of the rating reviews or what critics say they do very well at the box office because they just go to see him in the theaters and celebrate.

[00:40:55]You know in movies what we rely a lot is on magic and less on logic.

[00:41:02]But here for him uh to become uh from an actor to the politician to eventually chief minister of the state is a combination of many logic lot of magic emotions of people the strategy the reach in some cases suppression that he went through insults because every time there is something that happened to him in a negative way people felt a lot more hurt. Yeah, >> people felt a lot more affected. Uh and therefore maybe that would have happened even not letting J movie release also >> and that all translated because they always stood by him and they took it a little personally. That's the reason why I'm very confident as and when this movie gets released there's so many people who have been requesting me please change the title card. We want to see it as uh I know we love Talapati Vijay but this time we want to see it as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu Vijay.

[00:41:59]And that's the emotion that flows there.

[00:42:02]Are >> are you planning to change the title card uh with this request that's coming in from the fans?

[00:42:08]>> Movies are event at the end of the day m are made for people and the fans if the law permits and we need to see what it is. We'll definitely look at it. It's a joy.

[00:42:18]>> Okay. That that's a that's a piece of breaking news you've given us to us hungry journalists wen sir that you're considering changing the title card and if the law permits you will actually do that. It'll be amazing to see that chief minister Vijay you know starring in this great film in and as Jan all relate to each other.

[00:42:36]>> Chief minister Vijay in and as Janayagan would be you know would be a pioneering actor. I don't think that has ever happened before. Certainly not you know in recent memory. So that would be amazing. I wish you luck and I hope that actually happens. But one final question to you actually two small questions. one you know you touched upon this this entire social media energy that we saw build around Janagan as well as Vijay what did you make of it because you know Vijay's critics and rivals were very dismissive sometimes even contemptuous in saying oh this is just a social media phenomenon you know fans will not come out and vote these these fan armies will not convert into a electorate all of that has been proven wrong and social media was a very very important aspect of it of Of course, there were many dance reels and song reels etc. But there was some very serious messaging that happened on social media sir which is correct. I mean everybody is entitled to their analysis because there are many instances in the past where large amount of crowds have come and they did not translate into votes for many people. What is important is uh fans becoming voters and voters votes becoming getting converted into seats.

[00:43:50]>> Everything is important. the huge turnout that he had, the message that he was giving, the way people carried it and spread it and uh everything uh added to one another and we had high percentage polling and lot of first time voters uh most of them was in favor and youth and women always stood by him and everything translated into votes that is most important not just uh the crowd coming in and they you know on the polling day coming and voting for him and I'm told I am told and that's why I lot of places uh the the way voting has happened is they have not even looked at who is the candidate they look at looked at the symbol and voted >> h yeah yeah no absolutely you you know uh one thing that a lot of journalists in the media wondering wer is vijay is such a huge superstar your rules of engagement in public places is going to be a problem yes There is a earlier template with MGR and Jita they also used to draw huge crowds but you know crowd management is going to be an issue and as chief minister he's going to have to travel much more than as an actor.

[00:45:04]>> Yes but I I think there'll definitely be uh systems and processes in place safety measures in place. Last time I think when he went in there I think some of the decisions were last minute and then uh I do not want to get into it. I have not private to many of them but with administration being in his control everything can be pre-planned well most of the events are planned well he comes on time and you know he speaks in the most effective and engaging manner connecting with people directly heartto-he heart and he always starts with saying that you all live in my heart >> and indeed they they are he's really really concerned about people and uh every decision every step that he's going to take he's going to be for fulfilling the promises that he has made and for betterment and welfare of the society.

[00:45:53]>> I will end with an unfair question Wenger sir which is uh you know to ask the maker of Janagon to tell us his favorite dialogue from the film. We've heard many dialogues already some of the things that we've heard in the trailer etc. But give us your favorite lines from the film and then we will bid you farewell.

[00:46:12]>> Um may not be this film. My favorite line has always been from some other movie that has made called bigil.

[00:46:18]>> Yes.

[00:46:19]>> Uh you know one of the characters mentioned saying that means cup is important. I mean here even this win was important post was also important. He made he himself made uh that comment in the audio launch in Malaysia. Whatever we do at the end of the day cup is important.

[00:46:42]>> Amazing. Amazing. I I know that line and it's one of my favorites as well. So I'm glad you uh put out that line. We are all looking forward to Janagan both on screen. Yes. And I did I did in the audio function was mentioning uh you know to people of in in Malaysia saying that since I was new I was inquiring about which areas business-wise he's strong and people mentioned saying that sir and Adam and area in the area all areas he's the king >> but he translated in elections as well not just movies all the areas he imaged as a king >> incredible you know on the silver screen and clearly in real life it's not no longer political speculation or prime time debates. It has happened and we'll have to see where this journey takes him.

[00:47:33]It's been a pleasure speaking to you uh Wenard sir. We wish you and the film very well. I personally hope Janagon comes out very soon and I will uh you know maybe fly down to Chennai to watch the first day first show when it releases and we will be in conversation with you again very soon.

[00:47:48]Congratulations to you and your team and all that you have done in connection with this film and with Vijay. Thank you very much for speaking toward having you.

[00:47:56]>> Yes.

[00:47:57]>> Pleasure. Thank you. Thank you.

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[00:54:56]Good evening. Welcome to Left Right and Center. I'm Vishnu Sh on the program.

[00:55:00]This evening, President Trump has rejected Iran's latest response to the US peace proposal, causing it, calling it totally unacceptable. Now, this development has further heightened tensions in West Asia. It's driven global oil prices higher. The Indian stock markets reacted sharply. Today, the Sensex plunging 1,313 points to close at 76,15 while the Nifty fell nearly 360 points. Now, against this backdrop, the prime minister has appealed to citizens, particularly the middle class, to postpone non-essential foreign travel, overseas vacations, and destination weddings for at least a year. He's urged greater fuel conservation through work from home, public transport, and domestic tourism, describing these steps as a national responsibility to protect foreign exchange reserves and shield the economy from the ongoing global Oh.