The report that DMK leader M. Karunanidhi is not for an alliance with an “ungrateful” Congress to fight the 2014 election is amusing (Dec.16). None will forget how the DMK played its cards well during UPA-I and UPA-II to ensure that important portfolios went its way. The nation will not forget how the then Union Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, was sent numerous times to Chennai to talk to Mr. Karunanidhi when there were several rough moments. That it caused much discomfiture to the Prime Minister is also well known.
The Congress did treat the leader with respect.
V. Rajagopalan,Chennai
The DMK seems to have realised only now how “ungrateful” the Congress has been. Its move seems to smack of opportunism after the Congress’s failure in the recent Assembly elections. Who knows, both the Congress and the BJP may be left alone to fight the 2014 election without allies. In an era of coalition politics, a number of regional parties are likely to contest independently to increase their national influence.
V.S. Ganeshan,Bangalore
After resolving not to join hands with either the Congress or the BJP, Mr. Karunanidhi has said the Congress is responsible for the imprisonment of both Mr. A. Raja, former Union Minister, and Ms Kanimozhi, party MP. There is a famous line in a Tamil film, “In politics it is all quite natural ( Araiyallae ithellaam sathaaranamappaa ”).
Meenakshi Pattabiraman,Madurai
The party has once again shown its true colours at the opportune time. The Congress too deserves this shock treatment for its inability to distinguish between pursuing its political interests and safeguarding national interests. While in the short term, the DMK’s decision is likely to ensure its rout in the Lok Sabha election, it is too early to predict what will happen in the long term.
Ettirankandath Krishnadas,Palakkad
It is the Congress party that had to face almost endless humiliation due to numerous scams. That regional allies were responsible for some of them is well-known. Let us wait and watch to see if the Lokpal Bill gives autonomy to the CBI.
Capt. N. Viswanathan (retd.),Chennai
This exit from the UPA alliance citing the 2G scam and the Sri Lankan Tamil issues is an example of political opportunism. Leaders who shared power with the Congress government for nearly a decade have done nothing significant for the welfare of the Sri Lankan people. Quite a few of the alleged 2G scam perpetrators are connected with the DMK. It will not be a surprise if the party now strikes an alliance with the rising BJP.
G. Stanley Jeyasingh,Nagercoil
