IIPM Publication
The octogenarian Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi is into his political maths once again. The Diravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has tried to woo back the estranged Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). Last
week, Union Minister for Surface Transport TR Balu met Dr S Ramadoss, chief of PMK and conveyed his leader’s rapprochement message. Ramadoss said he would consult his party colleagues. The meeting was kept a secret. So secret in fact that the DMK’s organ Murasoli’s scribes too did not know of this, and Murasoli continued it’s tirade against PMK. However, the news leaked out after two days, and immediately senior functionary of the party, Naganathan hastily telephoned Ramdoss about the faux passé. Things are tough for the ruling DMK these days. It went to the 2004 Parliamentary elections with Congress, PMK, CPI, CPM, MDMK on its side. But over the years, the alliance eroded. First it was MDMK to go. Then PMK, and finally the communist parties, citing DMK’s support to Indo-US nuke deal. Now the only partner is Congress but its members are peeved for not getting a share in power. The DMK, with 96 members in the Assembly, is running a minority government with support from the Congress. With the general elections nearing, DMK’s voice in the UPA is not as powerful as earlier....Continue
The octogenarian Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi is into his political maths once again. The Diravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has tried to woo back the estranged Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). Last
week, Union Minister for Surface Transport TR Balu met Dr S Ramadoss, chief of PMK and conveyed his leader’s rapprochement message. Ramadoss said he would consult his party colleagues. The meeting was kept a secret. So secret in fact that the DMK’s organ Murasoli’s scribes too did not know of this, and Murasoli continued it’s tirade against PMK. However, the news leaked out after two days, and immediately senior functionary of the party, Naganathan hastily telephoned Ramdoss about the faux passé. Things are tough for the ruling DMK these days. It went to the 2004 Parliamentary elections with Congress, PMK, CPI, CPM, MDMK on its side. But over the years, the alliance eroded. First it was MDMK to go. Then PMK, and finally the communist parties, citing DMK’s support to Indo-US nuke deal. Now the only partner is Congress but its members are peeved for not getting a share in power. The DMK, with 96 members in the Assembly, is running a minority government with support from the Congress. With the general elections nearing, DMK’s voice in the UPA is not as powerful as earlier....Continue