Contrary to the assertion of some political leaders that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have always found themselves at the opposite ends of the political spectrum, the two parties supported the same presidential candidate thrice in the past i.e., 1982, 1997 and 2002.
In July 1982, the Congress, which was the ruling party at the Centre, had overwhelming support in the electoral college, representing elected members of the two Houses of Parliament and the State legislature, and was being courted by both the Dravidian arch-rivals.
In the January 1980 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK had an electoral tie-up with the Congress, and the combine won 37 out of 39 seats. Weeks after Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister again in January 1980, the Central government dismissed the government headed by M.G. Ramachandran, AIADMK’s founder. He returned to power later.
In the run-up to the 1982 presidential election, the Congress-DMK alliance was still intact, even though the then Chief Minister, M.G. Ramachandran, was making efforts to reach out to the Congress and Indira Gandhi.
On June 15, 1982, even when there was no clarity on the Congress’ nominee, the Prime Minister held discussions with both M. Karunanidhi, DMK’s president, and M.G. Ramachandran.
Karunanidhi’s choice
Recounting this episode, Mr. Karunanidhi, in the third volume of Nenjekku Needhi — regarded as his political autobiography — claimed that it was he who suggested the name of Zail Singh for President during his meeting with Indira Gandhi. When Singh came to Chennai on June 28 to seek the support of legislators of the State, Mr. Karunanidhi expressed happiness over his selection as he belonged to a backward class.
Thindivanam K. Ramamurthee, then a senior leader of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, recalls that though the AIADMK leader, immediately after his meeting with Indira Gandhi, did not openly declare his party’s support, he made his position clear when he chose to call on Singh at the State Guest House in Chennai.
In 1997, when K.R. Narayanan, also from Congress, became the candidate, the DMK and the AIADMK were quick to announce their support to him. At the time, Narayanan received the support of almost all the parties at the all-India level as he was the first Dalit fielded for the post by a major party. The DMK, which was in power in the State, was also part of the ruling coalition – United Front – at the Centre.
Five years later, the candidature of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was also supported by the AIADMK as well as the DMK. At the time, the DMK was part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.
In the upcoming Presidential elections, the DMK and the two factions of the AIADMK would be backing rival camps.
