Family matters

Though the earth hasnt stopped shaking after A. Rajas resignation,the DMK has blithely moved on. The Karunanidhi family was front-and-centre in national affairs,as they turned a private ceremony,a wedding in the family,into a political ceremonial to display the durability of their alliance with the Congress. Its no secret that the family is a feud-riddled,shaky ship Karunanidhis sons Stalin and Alagiri are locked in a struggle for control of the party machine. The DMKs decisions about divvying up political positions at the Centre or assigning responsibility in the state are also highly fraught decisions,given this flammable family situation. At the wedding,Karunanidhi pointed out that it was a self-respect marriage and the reference only underscored how far the party has drifted from its founding ideals. That the DMK has debased itself,from being a movement of rationalist convictions led by a dedicated cadre,to a party that submits to the patriarchs will for every decision and allows the familys well-being to be its sole guiding concern,is its own problem. However,those decisions have such tremendous national ramifications. Karunanidhis desire to placate one force or the other,and for the party to demand the most lucrative ministries at the Centre,so that it can throw money around in the state,have now made allying with the DMK a highly difficult choice. It has now put the prime minister and the entire UPA in a place it wouldnt want to be seen in,brought it the Supreme Courts reprimand and great public scorn. The DMK might think that wringing a sector dry passes as suitable ministerial behaviour,but its actions have put the whole government into question.The Congress appears determined not to let the Raja incident sour the relationship,as Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambarams presence at the Madurai wedding indicated. Both sides emphasised how well they understood each other,and their intent to keep the alliance going. The tensions,if any,had been papered over. However,much as it needs their political strength,the Congress must realise the cost of accommodating the DMKs succession concerns. The rest of the country may not be as cynical and accepting about the sordid give-and-take and accommodation that many Indian joint families take for granted.