DMK offer to Chidambaram put on hold

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, MARCH 19. In a dramatic development today, the ruling DMK, after giving three seats to the TMC Democratic Forum, floated by the dissident TMC leader, Mr. P. Chidambaram, put the offer on hold for a day or two.

According to a DMK press release, ``a final decision on the offer will be taken in a day or two after discussions and consideration on both sides''.

One reason for this move could be that Mr. Chidambaram was away in Delhi when the deal was struck earlier in the day. Either his forum was not satisfied with the number of seats on offer, or it sensed there could be a controversy over contesting on the DMK symbol.

In a related development, the TMC has convened an emergency meeting of its executive on Wednesday to review the developments on the `Chidambaram front', when a debate is likely on the demand for disciplinary action against the former Union Minister.

This morning, the general secretary of Mr. Chidambaram's TMC Democratic Forum, Mr. B. Ranganathan, called on Mr. Karunanidhi at the DMK party office and clinched the seat-sharing deal. They agreed that their candidates will contest on the DMK's `Rising Sun' symbol. Their meeting was a sequel to Mr. Chidambaram's talks with the DMK chief on Saturday, when he conveyed his decision to campaign in favour of the DMK-led front.

Mr. Karunanidhi announced that ``based on the views expressed by Mr. Chidambaram'' and the talks held today, the forum, floated by him, had been offered three seats. Mr. Ranganathan and his party colleague, Mr. Sundaram, held discussions with the DMK's election committee.

Reacting to the dissident group accepting the seats offered by the DMK and agreeing to contest on the DMK symbol, a senior TMC functionary said ``this only confirms what we knew all along. Mr. Chidambaram had no ideological differences with the TMC or its leadership. He was bent on forging an opportunistic alliance to shape his future''.

One section of the party wants Mr. Chidambaram to be expelled immediately. But the TMC president, Mr. G. K. Moopanar, does not seem to favour drastic action. He has always restrained his colleagues from reacting sharply to the developments in the open, ever since the rift surfaced last month.

The party is expected to ``strictly follow the rules'' while initiating disciplinary action against the rebels. Therefore, the leadership has decided to consult not only the executive, but also the office-bearers and district presidents of the TMC, before even issuing a show-cause notice.

The executive is also expected to affirm its ``solid support'' and confidence in Mr. Moopanar's leadership, which, party seniors say, Mr. Chidambaram has openly challenged with his statement, ``The TMC has a leader, but no leadership''.

The perception in the TMC now is that Mr. Chidambaram's `open revolt' has had ``little impact'' and was unlikely to cause a major split or trigger an exodus. Without remaining complacent, the executive will review the fall-out of the revolt and the former Minister's decision to campaign in favour of the DMK-led front.

In a strategic move, the party seems to have decided to `go slow' on the identification of seats. This could ensure that some of the sitting MLAs, who may be denied tickets, do not cross over to the rebel camp right away.

Meanwhile, the TNCC president, Mr. E. V. K. S. Elangovan, called on Mr. Moopanar this morning and discussed the identification of seats to be contested by the Congress and the contours of a joint campaign strategy. He told the media that the party had identified `favourable seats' and it was for the TMC-Congress to begin parleys with the AIADMK to complete the exercise.

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