Ramadoss in no hurry to meet Karunanidhi

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI, AUG. 9. Despite a growing disenchantment with the DMK and its Dalit partners, the Pattali Makkal Katchi is trying to avoid a mismatch of alliances at the national and State levels.

While PMK leaders maintain that the party entering the State NDA is now in the hands of the DMK high command, they are not willing to contemplate the possibility of its following the MDMK example of allying with the BJP at the national level and fighting the DMK in Tamil Nadu.

But, at the same time, without waiting for the decision of the DMK-led State NDA, the PMK is evaluating its political options as part of the BJP-led NDA.

The PMK seniors claim that the entry of their party into the national level NDA is a ``settled fact'' and, therefore, only the alliance with the DMK and the regional allies needs to be decided. They do not think that the DMK can reverse the ``decision'' already taken by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and announced by the NDA convener, Mr. George Fernandes, and the BJP president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy.

Indeed, they are looking forward to a couple of party MPs joining the NDA Government after the current Parliament session is over. The PMK founder, Dr. S. Ramadoss, is therefore unlikely to be in a hurry to meet the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi. Even if he reiterates that a decision on the PMK's entry into the State- level NDA depends on a meeting with Dr. Ramadoss, the PMK founder would not do anything to give the impression of his ``desperately'' knocking at the doors of the DMK.

Apparently, the PMK is not very comfortable with the DMK is being accommodative of the DPI led by Mr. R. Tirumavalavan. The delay in decision-making by the DMK, consequent to the DPI objections, appears to have created the impression that the PMK was desperate to gain reentry into the NDA.

Actually, the PMK is eager to dispel the view that its fate hinges on the decision to be taken by the DMK in consultation with the DPI and other allies.

According to sources close to Dr. Ramadoss, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy clarified to the PMK that his views on fixing norms for entry into the NDA did not have anything specifically to do with the PMK. Apparently, the PMK was given to understand that the remarks against opportunistic reentry into the NDA were directed more at the Trinamool Congress.

As the PMK repeatedly expressed its loyalty to the NDA Government and never directly allied with the Congress, the party leaders expect the BJP to help to sort out the differences with the DMK in good time. They see no urgency as the Lok Sabha election is more than three years away. The elections to the local bodies are not of any great concern, they say. If necessary, the PMK is ready to go it alone.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Ashok Kumar remarks expunged
Next     : Why prioritise DPI opposition, asks PT