The Hindu : PT moots common anti-AIADMK front

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

PT moots common anti-AIADMK front

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI JAN. 1 . Calling for a united front against the `fascist AIADMK Government', the Puthiya Tamizhagam today initiated efforts at bringing under an umbrella all secular parties, including all constituents of the National Democratic Alliance except the BJP.

Although the PT's intent is to keep out both the BJP and the AIADMK, identified as the `twin danger' to secularism and democracy, the president, K. Krishnasamy, did not attack the BJP directly, fearing that such a move would alienate its allies in the NDA, which were also having problems.

As the aim is to broadbase the Opposition front, Dr. Krishnasamy did not want roadblocks at the incipient stage itself. However, by seeking to keep the BJP out of a united front and describing the AIADMK as `fascist', the PT chief was clear that the alternative to the AIADMK would have to be a secular, progressive front.

In separate letters addressed to leaders of the DMK, the Congress, the CPI, the CPI(M), the Pattali Makkal Katchi, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Dalit Panthers of India, the Indian National League, the Makkal Tamizh Desam and the Congress Jananayaga Peravai, Dr. Krishnasamy asked them to state their views on building a united front against the AIADMK.

He suggested that the leaders undertake the responsibility of coordinating the efforts. Alternatively, they could nominate any one party leader to take up the task.

The front was necessary to confront the ``anti-people measures'' of the AIADMK Government. "We must enter the arena to put an end to it. All parties which had faith in democracy should come together to oppose authoritarianism," the PT leader said in his communication.

In support of his argument that a united opposition could remove the AIADMK from power, Dr. Krishnasamy said the party won the people's mandate in the last Assembly election only because the Opposition votes were divided. "People did not come forward to place her (Jayalalithaa) in the seat of power.'' But, the Opposition parties, which did not know the true nature of the AIADMK leader, remained divided, enabling the AIADMK to win easily, he said.

The Opposition parties should desist from organising separate agitations. There would be no gain from such protests. ``If we hesitate now, it would only allow the Jayalalithaa regime to continue.''

In the present situation, to defeat the AIADMK, a common front was necessary. To check the anti-people measures of the AIADMK and to protect the people, the Opposition parties must fight united. Such a course would infuse confidence in the people, who were disenchanted with the Government, he said.

Only secular parties could form an alternative to the AIADMK, he said. By addressing the letters to the NDA constituents, the PT chief was giving expression to his hope of a political realignment taking place by the next general election.

The letters were sent to the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi; the TNCC president, S. Balakrishnan; the TNCC working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan; the CPI State secretary, R. Nallakannu; the CPI(M) State secretary, N. Varadarajan; the CJP leader, P. Chidambaram; the DPI leader, R. Tirumavalavan; the PMK founder, S. Ramadoss; the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko; the Makkal Tamizh Desam founder, S. Kannappan, and the all-India INL secretary, M.M. Nizamuddin.

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