New poll challenges ahead of DMK

By M.R. Venkatesh

CHENNAI, DEC. 31. Several election-related issues are beginning to unfold for the ruling DMK in the State and throwing up fresh challenges for it, that its president and Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, may no longer be able to defer their consideration.

In fact, sources indicate that with the DMK coming under pressure from some of its allies and other poll-hinging developments, the party might have to ``break its silence'' to straighten out ties among its NDA partners in the State.

Apart from the long-running feud between the PMK led by Dr. S. Ramadoss and the TRC headed by the former Union Petroleum Minister, Mr. Vazhapadi K Ramamurthi, the DMK leadership has also other delicate political issues to consider, sooner than later.

Notwithstanding Mr. Karunanidhi's ``quiet optimism'' that the DMK-led alliance is in order, sources say that he would need to initiate a consultative exercise at some level to smoothen ruffled feathers.

The irritants may not have come to the fore yet, but a latent but sensitive current for allies like the MDMK is the fact that the DMK's leadership, has of late been quite plainly talking of the Chennai Mayor and party's youth wing leader, Mr. M.K. Stalin, taking over future responsibilities in the party.

Recently, the DMK's general secretary, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, while releasing a travelogue of Mr. Stalin had virtually made clear the line of leadership succession in the party.

This, sources say, has sent out a clear signal of a second-line leadership ``ready for the job.''

Though none has doubts about Mr. Karunanidhi leading the poll campaign and that he will again head the Government if DMK was voted back to power in the 2001 Assembly elections, sources indicate that the leadership would also have to ensure that this ``purely internal development'' vis-a-vis Mr. Stalin's rise in the DMK, did not dip the confidence levels in its other allies.

Another issue cropping up for the DMK is the coming together of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), TMC and the Left parties as part of the AIADMK-led secular front, sources point out.

Interestingly, the DK in the early 1960s' which had alternately backed the Communists and the Congress against the DMK in the State Assembly elections, now seems to be repeating that pattern after over three decades, in league with the AIADMK and both factions of the Muslim League.

This development, along with the caste-based outfits like the Mudaliyars-dominated New Justice Party trying to ``bargain'' for a better electoral deal, that threatens to erode traditional vote-banks, are issues of concern to the DMK, sources say.

Another area of worry for the DMK would be if the zealots of the Sangh Parivar announce a date for commencing the construction of the Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, notwithstanding the BJP leadership's assurances to the contrary.

While Mr. Karunanidhi had already said that it was not within his powers to convene a meeting of the NDA in the State, the DMK may toy with the idea of finding some other forum to bring all its present allies including the BJP to discuss these issues in a bid to raise their comfort levels.

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Section  : Southern States
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