MDMK heading for a split

Even as Vaiko undertakes a padyatra in Tamil Nadu8217;s southern districts 8220;to highlight the failure of the DMK government to protect the interests of farmers in the Mullaperiyar Dam issue,8221; his party

Even as Vaiko undertakes a padyatra in Tamil Nadu8217;s southern districts 8220;to highlight the failure of the DMK government to protect the interests of farmers in the Mullaperiyar Dam issue,8221; his party, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MDMK, appears to be heading for a split.

Vaiko, who had quit the DMK after Karunanidhi accused him of conspiring with the LTTE to kill him, took a chunk of followers with him to launch the MDMK in 1993. Today, two of his trusted lieutenants, parliamentary group leader L Ganesan and Gingee N Ramachandran, the Vandavasi MP, are all set to quit the party. The MDMK has four Lok Sabha members.

The first signs of the simmering discontent within the party became apparent when Murasoli, the DMK organ, published on Tuesday the full text of Ganesan8217;s speech during the debate on the 27 per cent Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha, along with the liberal praises that the MDMK leader had heaped on the CM and DMK president M Karunanidhi. The same evening, Ganesan was also heard telling a television channel that there was much unhappiness among the party rank and file because of Vaiko 8220;frequently switching sides8221;. This had resulted in the leader losing his 8220;credibility8221;, Ganesan said.

Sun TV, owned by Karunanidhi8217;s grandnephew and Dayanidhi Maran8217;s brother Kalanidhi Maran, telecast Ganesan8217;s byte through the day today, gleefully declaring that the MDMK leader 8220;makes flurry of charges8221; against Vaiko.

According to DMK leaders, the party had succeeded in breaking the MDMK and wooing some legislators besides the two MPs. Vaiko8217;s decision to quit the DMK-led front in the May 2006 Assembly election and align with Jayalalithaa8217;s AIADMK had severely dented his credibility, with the party which contested 35 seats managing to win just six. It was during the previous Jayalalithaa regime that Vaiko was incarcerated for 19 months under POTA for praising the LTTE.