The function to mark DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s 60 years of service in the Tamil Nadu Assembly will be yet another occasion for leaders of parties opposed to the BJP to come together on one platform. Though the party’s working president M.K. Stalin has sought to play down the political significance of the event to be held at YMCA Royapettah on June 3, the list of invitees to the meeting reads like a Who’s Who of leaders who have been finding common ground against the BJP nationally.
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Rashtriya Janta Dal leader Lalu Prasad and Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien are scheduled to attend the function that will also mark Mr. Karunanidhi’s birthday.
The immediate agenda before the opposition parties is the upcoming Presidential election. Mr. Stalin, however, said the purpose of the visit of leaders was different, although he said Congress leader Sonia Gandhi did speak to him over the telephone about the poll. “Other leaders are also in touch with me. A final decision on a common Presidential candidate will be taken after completing talks with all the leaders,” he said.
Closing ranks
As both the factions of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu are moving closely with the BJP and are expected to support its candidate for the President, the DMK and its fraternal parties are likely to close ranks behind a common candidate.
Beyond the Presidential poll, however, any further cooperation may be harder to achieve especially in Tamil Nadu where the Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) are functioning as a separate front.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has called for a coming together of Left and other secular parties to form an anti-BJP front.
But local communist leaders, who have agreed to work with the DMK on issues, are wary of any broader electoral alliance with the DMK.
Meanwhile, Mr. Stalin told reporters that he is yet to receive any reply from the Speaker for his letter demanding the convening of the Assembly to debate the demands for grants for various departments.
He said the AIADMK government was not ready to convene the Assembly as it was afraid of losing majority in the House. “That is why both the factions of the ruling party are vying with each other to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi,”Mr. Stalin said.
