The Hindu : DMK remarks fail to cheer CPI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 25, 2002

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Opinion - News Analysis

DMK remarks fail to cheer CPI

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI May 24 . After having first allied and then snapped ties with the DMK and the AIADMK at different points in time, the CPI is now wary of the ideological commitment of the two major Dravidian parties to the secular, socialist cause.

For the first time, both the DMK and the AIADMK are being seen as pro-BJP thus reducing the options of the party in alliance politics.

While taking note of the ``pro-Communist'' statements of the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, at a function where he shared platform with the CPI State secretary, R. Nallakannu, CPI leaders do not want to read too much into them before the DMK decides, if at all, to make a clean break with the BJP.

Apparently, the DMK wants to project itself as a ``better ally'' despite its alliance with the BJP, but the CPI leaders have no intention of identifying the DMK as a ``lesser evil'' than the AIADMK.

The CPI National Council secretary, D. Raja, says neither the DMK nor the AIADMK could have any justification for supporting the BJP after the Gujarat carnage. The AIADMK, which won the election as part of the secular front, remained neutral on the Gujarat resolution in the Lok Sabha with the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, taking the stand that one Chief Minister could not demand the resignation of another.

According to Mr. Raja, the issue is whether the AIADMK, as a political party, wants to support the BJP on the Gujarat issue.

The AIADMK strategy is seen in CPI circles as an ``options open policy'' that could lead to an alliance with the BJP in case the DMK walks out of the NDA.

Although the CPI began distancing itself from the AIADMK in the days after the steep increase in prices and tariffs of essential commodities and services, the underlying reason is the apprehension that Ms. Jayalalithaa is only looking for an opportunity to ally with the BJP. Unlike the CPI(M), which in the last ten years had several disagreements with the DMK over several issues, the CPI remained a steadfast ally from 1991 until 1999 when the DMK allied with the BJP.

After 1991, the CPI(M) has never been in the same electoral front as the DMK.

Mr. Nallakannu, in the function with Mr. Karunanidhi, expressed hope that the DMK chief would take the ``correct stand'' meaning that the CPI wanted the DMK to break ties with the BJP.

Mr. Karunanidhi too had wooed the Left parties saying that the separation with the communists was not permanent.

In case, the differences between the DMK and the BJP accentuate in the coming months, this could form the basis for a coming together of the DMK and the Left parties.

But, for the moment, the CPI leaders do not want to count their chicken before the eggs are hatched.

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