The general council of the Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) is all set to meet on April 24, heightening expectations on the direction the party would take as far as electoral alliances are concerned.
If one went by TMC president G.K. Vasan’s statements over the last five months, he has consciously avoided making political opponents in the State. Barring the BJP, with which the TMC claims to have ideological differences, Mr. Vasan had not made any significant criticism against other parties in Tamil Nadu. As far as the two principal Dravidian outfits are concerned, he has maintained equidistance, commenting more on their policies than politics.
However, things took a curious turn last week when former Union Minister and senior TMC leader S.R. Balasubramanian justified the transfer of Karnataka Chief Justice D.H. Waghela to Odisha when the DMK and the PMK hit out at the move since it came in the context of the wealth case against AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa pending in the Karnataka High Court. It is not clear whether the statement was released with the blessings of Mr. Vasan. But it nevertheless led to serious speculations within the party over its timing.
At the same time, Mr. Vasan met leaders of the Left, including the new general secretary of the CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury, keeping his followers guessing. Within the TMC, there are those close to both the AIADMK and the DMK, making it difficult to ascertain which way the party would move in case it decides to opt for an alliance.
However, a senior TMC leader said Mr. Vasan may not make a commitment at the general council on electoral alliances as it was too premature. “Some of us want him to project the party as an alternative. While he may urge the people to bring in a change for the larger good of the State, any outright commitment on electoral plans will be difficult,” the leader said.
The party though is likely to continue its criticism of the BJP at the Centre.