Oppn talking of BJP, shows we've arrived: Khushbu | Economic Times

Khushbu Sundar, a former actor who crossed over from Congress to BJP in October 2020, is the AIADMK-led alliance’s candidate from Thousand Lights, a seat once held by DMK chief MK Stalin. She talks about the fight ahead in Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Edited excerpts:Your constituency, Thousand Lights, has been a DMK stronghold. How will you convince the voters to choose differently?If Thousand Lights was a DMK bastion, Stalin would not have gone all the way to Kolathur to contest. He would have stayed here. How do you plan to appeal for votes? With complete honesty. I’m here as an open person. I don’t come with any tag. I don’t come with false promises. I am going to tell them what we can deliver, what is possible.What will be the priorities for Chennai if AIADMK returns to power? The basic focus has been on development. Since the BJP manifesto has not yet been released, I wouldn’t be able to comment on that further. If you look at the Centre, we have been focusing on employment, development, self-reliance, women’s safety. This will definitely be part of it.Tamil Nadu and Chennai have never really voted for the BJP in the past. The party has a very Hindi, Hindu image. What will be different this time? This time, when people talk about BJP (in TN), they are talking about the difference it can make. Even the Opposition has been discussing BJP — that very clearly shows we have arrived, that we are making a mark, that we are going to make a difference. If you look all over India, wherever people said BJP can never barge in, we have made a huge difference. This is just the beginning for the BJP in Tamil Nadu.Already, there seem to be differences of opinion between BJP and AIADMK over issues like CAA. What is the alliance’s stand? The alliance’s stand is very clear. Our general secretary CT Ravi has given a statement and I wouldn’t want to comment further on it.Do you see Kamal Haasan as a genuine challenge to the bigger parties? It’s very important to understand that everyone has the right to come to politics. I wish Kamal Haasan all the very best, he’s been doing well for himself as a first-timer. Let’s see what happens in the election.There seems to be resentment in the party over allocation of seats to recent entrants. How does the BJP plan to resolve that? There’s no dissent at all. People are working together. They understand that in these 20 seats we have, what is extremely important is to win those seats — that is the focus for now. It’s not necessary that everyone should be happy with every decision but as far as the party and all the workers are concerned, they know this is one party that works for the benefit of the country.