DMK calls council meeting on Annadurai death anniversary

It is the convention that the council,the biggest party body that has representatives from across the state,will meet once a year,and this time the impending election just months away has given it new importance. But this time,the choice of date comes across as a curious selection. February 3 is the death anniversary of party founder C N Annadurai,the mass leader who spearheaded the movement to wipe out ‘anti-Dravidian’ Congress from Tamil Nadu politics,a day observed by all regional parties founded on Dravidian identity. At a time when its relationship with the Congress has hit a low,keen observers of state politics believe there is more to it than what meets the eye.

However,senior leaders of the party denied there was any subtle message in it as suggested,maintaining it was only a matter of convenience.

“On that day,most of the senior leaders of the party will come to Chennai to pay homage. So we thought it will be convenient for them to attend the meeting the same day,” said a party leader.

Not all are convinced though. For one,there is a month to go for the council meeting,a long enough period for any eventuality in a poll-bound state.

Meanwhile,the AIADMK,now in a new vigour ever since the CAG report on spectrum sale became public,has constituted committees to hold preliminary discussions with allies. Party general secretary J Jayalalithaa has appointed former chief minister and party treasurer O Paneerselvam,headquarters secretary K A Sengottaiyan and party election wing secretary Pollachi Jayaraman to hold seat-sharing talks with others in the coalition in Tamil Nadu. Addressing her general council last week,Jaya had promised them to make an announcement about the coalition soon.

The PMK too had a council meet this week,though it deferred taking any decision of coalition matters. There are,however,enough indications that the party would prefer to go with the DMK at least as of now.