DMK pulls out of ruling alliance
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a regional ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) decided yesterday to pull out two of its ministers and quit the ruling alliance.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a regional ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) decided yesterday to pull out two of its ministers and quit the ruling alliance.
A high-level meeting of the party under the presidentship of M. Karunanidhi yesterday announced the decision to pull out of the NDA, withdraw its ministers from the federal government and only give "issue-based" support to government.
The party has three ministers in the government. Of them. Murasoli Maran died last month. The two others, T.R. Baalu, Environment Minister and A. Raja Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, who attended yesterday's meeting left for New Delhi to tender their resignation to the prime minister.
Following BJP President M. Venkiah Naidu's comment earlier this week that it was not proper for the DMK to launch an agitation against Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) while still being part of the federal government and Karunanidhi's sharp reaction, it was considered likely that the DMK would opt out of the NDA.
Other factors had also been pushing the party towards such a decision.
The Sangh Parivaar's support to their bete noire Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha on her anti-conversion bill, Jaya's support to the Parivaar's call to build a temple at Ayodhya, and frequent support to her even to head the federal government, were some of them.
Similarly the support to Jayalalitha by the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP had forced Karunanidhi to announce earlier that the NDA was non-existent in this state.
Even as recently as last month Karunanidhi had written to Prime Minister Vajpayee suggesting that the federal government was a mute spectator to undemocratic actions by the Jayalalitha government.
The DMK must also have come to the conclusion that its own vote bank and "secular" image in the state was being eroded by staying on in the NDA and attracting the criticism that the party was indirectly supporting the 'communal' BJP.
They have, so far, not apparently taken any decision on future alliances. However, after the talks that Karunanidhi, Stalin and others have been having with MDMK's Vaiko, there is a possibility that Vaiko who was banished from the DMK might be welcomed back in some manner.
The Congress and the Communists have also been putting pressure on the 'secular' DMK to come out of the NDA and join them to fight the 'communal' BJP. It has been argued that 'secular sections' of the population and the minorities will welcome such a move.
The final argument is that a DMK-Congress-Communist-MDMK alliance would be a formidable combine in an election.
On the other hand, like Jayalalitha and the AIADMK, the DMK may also decide to go it alone in a future election, without seeking any alliance.
The DMK view is that if an election is held in the State today, the anti-incumbency factor, combined with strong opposition from several sections of the community would work against the AIADMK to the advantage of the DMK.
There is, however, also a feeling that there is need for the youth to take on the party's leadership. At present, with the demise of Murasoli Maran, there is a feeling that there is no one who can help the ageing Karunanidhi, make up his mind on major issues.
Vaiko, however, impossible the possibility may seem, is seen in some quarters to be a possible replacement for Maran.
As for Jayalalitha, she may have come out unscathed in the TANSI land case from the Supreme Court, but has landed in another legal battle over the 'Disproportionate Wealth' cases. Last month the apex court transferred hearing in the cases to Karnataka on the ground that justice might not be done if the case against Jayalalitha was heard within the ambit of the legal system which was administered by her government.
Her plea to have the trial held in neighbouring Pondicherry instead is before the Court. Hearing in the case has been fixed for January 19, but Karnataka has been ordered to proceed with making arrangements for the hearing in that State. The Jayalalitha government was accused of misusing POTA against her political opponents. Although the legality of Act has been upheld by the Supreme Court, the Parliament has just passed amendments to make it more effective.
The Review Committee appointed by the federal government to look into allegations of misuse has been empowered to overrule both the Centre and the State in the application of the Act. Next Monday the Committee is expected to react to Tamil Nadu's objections including its very legality in the context of trials going on in the State in Special Courts.
Many expect that Vaiko who has been languishing in prison since July 11 last year may benefit. Already another detenu, Nedumaran has been asked to be released on bail by the Supreme Court.
