V. Gopalswamy

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V. Gopalswamy also known as Vaiko, is a prominent politician in Tamil Nadu, in south India. Born in Kallingappatti, Distt. Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) in 1944. He is the founder of the MDMK, a political party that espouses the cause of the Tamil people and Tamil nationalism. He is a well known orator, known for his fiery political speeches. Though hailing from the Telugu community, he has eschewed this identity and embraced the Tamil nation and championed its cause. Vaiko was formerly seen as the ideological protege of DMK co-founder and present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi. He was a rising member of the DMK but split to create the MDMK in 1992, alleging nepotism within the DMK and the rise of Karunanidhi's son M.K. Stalin.

Vaiko is well-known for his unequivocal support for the LTTE and other organizations fighting for Tamil nationhood in Sri Lanka. Since the LTTE is legally a banned terrorist organization in India, and it is illegal to publicly support it ideologically or financially, Vaiko has often been at odds with the law. In 2001, Vaiko was arrested by the Government of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at that time, J. Jayalalitha, for making a speech supporting the LTTE, under a controversial law called Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA). Vaiko refused to back down, and spent 19 months in prison. It is interesting that his party, the MDMK, was a member of the ruling coalition at that time.

In the following election in 2004, the MDMK split from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance that it was part of since 1999, and joined a coalition led by the Indian National Congress. After an emphatic win in the polls, and the subsequent repeal of POTA, Vaiko was released from prison. He is currently actively engaged in strengthening his party and preparing for the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections for which he has left the alliance with Indian national Congress and has joined All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by J. Jayalalitha. But AIADMK alliance lost in the 2006 Assembly elections and Vaiko's party could get only 6 seats.

Vaiko has never sought the post of a minister, though he was as instrumental in being the king maker,appropriately minister maker making his colleagues cabinet ministers and minsters of state.

Vaiko started a blood donors club which is run by the MDMK party with the name Marumalarchi Blood Donors' Club. Till date, more than 80,000 units of blood has been donated to the poor people. Here is the example of the Club's work.

Vaiko launched a 3 day tank desilting program in his Village, with the participation of villagers. Along with the villagers, he took clay soil in baskets and loaded it in tractors when the work began under the scorching sun. More about Tank Desilting Program.

MDMK is known for its commitment to peace and non-violence. Even when Vaiko was arrested, MDMK cadres fought patiently without creating any riots and disturbance to the people. An interesting event that happened in 1992 during the rally against DMK and Stalin, an MDMK cadre threw a stone on a public transport bus, immediately Vaiko caught him and sent him back to the village, after removing him from his party, at the same spot.

Vaiko stated in a public speech on Aug 21,2006 "Not all youth will be patient like Vaiko and MDMK cadres. Don't convert Tamil Nadu into another Kashmir, by giving arms to the Srilankan Army." The senior Congress leader Peter Alphonse rephrased this statement as "Vaiko said, 'A Kashmir will be created down south if the Eelam Tamils (Sri Lankan Tamils) suffer'" and brought this issue in Tamil Nadu assembly, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister corrected Alphonse that, Vaiko didn't say what Alphonse said and gave the correct statement again. He referred to the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi by LTTE and asked know "how long will this (public demonstration of sympathy for the Eelam) be allowed?" The chief minister Karunanidhi responded, "Whosoever speaks, threatening the integrity and sovereignty of the country will be dealt with according to the provisions of the law".

In Dec'2006 Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko has "temporarily" relieved the party's presidium chairman L. Ganesan and deputy general secretary Gingee N. Ramachandran of all posts and responsibilities for indulging in "anti-party activities."

However, Vaiko has lost much of his goodwill due to his opportunistic stand towards political alliances, frequently joining and leaving alliances, thereby confusing voters regarding his position on ideological issues.