The Hindu : DMK puts together a formidable alliance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 13, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

DMK puts together a formidable alliance

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, JAN. 12. With the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) also deserting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and joining the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led front in Tamil Nadu, the DMK has put together a formidable alliance. Three major constituents of the NDA in the State including the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) have joined hands with the Congress in the new equation.

Even if it means fewer seats for each of the partners, the "progressive front" has an impressive line up, which includes the two Left parties - the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India. Though some smaller parties are also keen on being part of the front, it may not be possible for the DMK, to offer them seats.

The party today set up its negotiating committee to deal with seat-sharing with its allies. Now that the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has virtually announced the elections, the progressive front is expected to get on with the business of apportioning 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone seat in Pondicherry among themselves.

If, at the national level, there is a polarisation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, in Tamil Nadu, there seems to be a clear division between the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the DMK. All but the BJP have now aligned with the DMK, while the AIADMK has so far shown no inclination to woo any ally.

Role reversal

It has been a role reversal for the two Dravidian rivals since the last election. The NDA then comprised the BJP, the DMK, the PMK, the MDMK and the MGR Kazhagam, while the AIADMK headed a "secular front", which included the Congress and the two Left parties. It remains to be seen whether the BJP will align with the AIADMK.

What has come as a surprise is the way the BJP's allies, one after another, quit the NDA and opted to go along with the DMK, whose sources say that the relations with the BJP, particularly at the State level, turned from bad to worse over the years and all connections were severed more than a year ago. Despite repeated pleas to the Centre on several key issues affecting the State, there was "no positive response" from the NDA Government.

Added to it was the perception that the BJP was moving towards the AIADMK. In the DMK's calculations, defeating its archrival in the State was more important than wanting to be part of a coalition government at the Centre.

Asked whether it made sense to leave the NDA when the BJP is trying to ride a wave of "the feel good factor" due to the buoyant economy, a former DMK Minister said, "We were part of that Government, yet we took a conscious decision to move away because of the ground realities in the State. This is our base and our main concern. We have been working to get such a united opposition to the AIADMK and this itself is a major victory. Half the battle has been won already and we are confident of sweeping the polls this time. It should be the beginning of the battle for 2006."

However, AIADMK sources were not "unduly worried" about the consolidation of Opposition parties.

"We have no stakes in the Parliament election. Our leader is confident that the people are with us and that is what matters. This will be an election to Parliament, not to the Assembly and the verdict will depend on the Centre's performance. Our plans will be finalised in a few days.

The party machinery is fully geared to the election and our achievements will speak for themselves," a senior office bearer said.

Last time, the AIADMK stole a march over the DMK in both alliance-making and seat-sharing.

This time round, the DMK has taken a huge lead even before the election schedule has been announced.

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