Opinion DMK: It’s a separation,not a divorce
Not many standing outside DMK president M Karunanidhis CIT Colony residence on March 18 doubted that the party will withdraw its ministers from the Union Cabinet
Not many standing outside DMK president M Karunanidhis CIT Colony residence on March 18 doubted that the party will withdraw its ministers from the Union Cabinet. Having taken an extreme position on Sri Lanka quite early on,the 89-year-old had repeated himself hoarse on the matter so much so,that he had a valid excuse not to speak at the executive committee meeting that day.
With the Congress criticised for being a liability in Tamil Nadu over a host of issues,which now included the alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka,there was a strong political case to quit the alliance. And unlike earlier leaders who made their presence felt in the state through highways and other developments,the DMKs Union ministers were not exactly assets.
Contrarily,there was also a case for not going too far,considering that the 2G net has Kanimozhi,the Marans and A Raja in it. This led many to speculate that Karunanidhi could join Mulayam and Mayawati in lending outside support. This way,the rein would be given up to distance his party from the Congress,but the leash would still be in place should the CBI,Enforcement Directorate or other Central agencies come calling. But the morning after the meeting that night with Congress emissaries,the DMK announced quitting.
In acting thus over the Lanka issue,the DMK has managed to do better than its botched threat and fast of summer 2009. It has also successfully diverted the limelight away from the students and other protesters agitating over the issue,hijacking it before it gained any more momentum.
Now that the dust has settled though,it is clear that the party will not go ballistic against the Congress like Mamata Banerjee did,the fallout of which she is only now realising at least for a few more months. The first indication came when Karunanidhi downplayed the CBI raids on sons Stalin and Alagiri two days after the divorce. When its executive met,the DMK chose to focus on its achievements as part of the nine-year-long alliance with the UPA,instead of displaying the spite and rancour expected of a recently separated couple.
Karunanidhi did not speak,again citing a sore throat,but his conscience keeper,general secretary K Anbazhagan,apparently informed the council that the party cannot side with rivals or communal forces to topple the government.
In this,the Congress for the DMK is what Italy was for the Centre. Both were accused of willingly believing the other side. And both faced pressure to act tough,at least publicly. But in politics as well as diplomacy,future relations are based on pragmatic considerations.
Gopu is a principal correspondent based in Chennai
gopu.mohan@expressindia.com
Share
