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Journalism of Courage
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today stayed away from a programme to unveil the statue of AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran in the Parliament house 8216;fearing reaction from UPA ally DMK8217;. AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had invited Sonia, but the Congress think-tank decided not to attend the programme.
In an apparent move to destabilise the DMK-led Congress supported government in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK has been floating theories about a possible realignment in the state. A section of the Congress, unhappy with the DMK, has also been suggesting possibility of dumping the DMK in favour of the AIADMK. Adding fuel to this speculation, Jayalalithaa told The Indian Express that 8220;this is possible.8221; 8220;A realignment of political forces in Tamil Nadu is possible. It may happen,8221; she said. However, she did not give a direct reply on whether she was in touch with the Congress.
That the Congress did not want to give credence to this theory was evident from the fact that Sonia and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not attend the programme. But, the PM and the Congress chief will attend the unveiling of DMK leader Murasoli Maran8217;s statue on Friday. Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi will also be present at the function.
Meanwhile, Jayalalithaa said 8220;initiatives have been made8221; to forge a third front at the national level. She met Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh. 8220;I came to Delhi and Mulayam was also here, so we decided to meet up,8221; she said, adding 8220;There will be new political formations at the national level also.8221;
