DMK dynamics may trigger realignment

Stalin’s remarks have added fuel to speculations that the DMK has begun looking for new allies.

September 21, 2014 02:38 am | Updated November 16, 2021 01:07 pm IST - CHENNAI:

Stalin’s remarks have added fuel to speculations that the DMK has begun looking for new allies. Photo: S. Siva

Stalin’s remarks have added fuel to speculations that the DMK has begun looking for new allies. Photo: S. Siva

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Treasurer M.K. Stalin’s declaration that his father and party president, M. Karunanidhi, would be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2016 Assembly elections has also signalled the party’s intention to prepare the ground for a possible political realignment in the state.

Apart from being aimed at stemming dissension within the party, Mr. Stalin’s remarks have added fuel to speculations that the DMK has begun looking for new allies. The latest positive comments made by MDMK general secretary Vaiko on the previous DMK government at a rally in Poonamallee to mark C.N. Annadurai’s birth anniversary, seems to reinforce this possibility.

Sources in the MDMK were of the view that Mr. Stalin’s declaration was a strategic move aimed at widening the alliance.

“While leaders in the DMK may accept Mr. Stalin as the Chief Ministerial candidate, you cannot expect the same from other party leaders. We think the DMK leadership has understood this,” an MDMK leader told The Hindu .The positive remarks by Mr. Vaiko has not surprised many, given the collision course he has been with the BJP leadership consistently over policies of the Centre on a variety of issues.

This was despite his decision to support the BJP in the local bodies’ by-polls.

In the same breath, Mr. Vaiko came down heavily on the AIADMK government for its performance on the economic and law and order fronts, prompting the party’s organ, ‘Namadhu MGR’ to hit back at the MDMK chief.

“At the moment, we perceive that all our allies are keeping their options open as far as the Assembly elections are concerned.” The PMK, for example, has not come out very strongly against the excesses of the ruling party in the run-up to the local body by-polls.,” a senior Tamil Nadu BJP leader said.

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