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Tamil Nadu
By Suresh Nambath
The CPI and the INL have already voiced support for a Congress-led opposition fight against the AIADMK in the south Tamil Nadu constituency. For both the parties, coordination with the Congress is central to the fight against the BJP even at the State-level. The CPI(M), after deciding not to contest in the constituency, has ruled out support for the AIADMK and all the constituents of the NDA, including the DMK and the BJP. That leaves support for the Congress as the only option. But the party has deferred a decision till the state committee meeting in Tiruchi scheduled for January 11 and 12. The Puthiya Tamizhagam is lobbying for a Congress candidate, who will have the backing of the Left parties and all the NDA constituents, barring the BJP. The DMK is keeping the door open for negotiations with the BJP as well as with other opposition parties. Ideally, it would have liked discussions on all alliance strategies to be put off till the next Lok Sabha election. But the byelection, quite inconveniently for the party, is forcing the pace. While the DMK is far from happy with the State BJP, it is not ready to walk out of the NDA at the national level, especially at a time when its principal representative in the Union Cabinet, Murasoli Maran, is away in the U.S. for medical treatment. The party would, therefore, like to move beyond Sattankulam with all its alliance options remaining open. The BJP, though it expressed its intention to contest from Sattankulam, is not averse to backing the DMK, provided there is a commitment on a long-term alliance. Sattankulam, then, is a bargaining chip for the BJP in the relations with the DMK. The byelection could help the BJP to get the DMK out of its `options open' mode.
PT chief meets Karunanidhi
The Puthiya Tamizhagam president, K. Krishnasamy, meanwhile, met the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, to explore the possibilities of a common candidate. Mr. Karunanidhi, however, straightaway discounted the possibility of an opposition candidate on a common symbol. However, according to PT sources, Mr. Karunanidhi was not averse to considering the available options, including support for a Congress candidate. According to Dr. Krishnasamy, the meeting gave scope for hope about the possibilities of the opposition coming together against the AIADMK. But in the understanding of the PT, the DMK is unsure of the Congress and the Left parties supporting a DMK candidate. Apparently, Mr. Karunanidhi is particularly upset with the CPI(M) for its stand against coordination with the DMK so long as it remained in the NDA. In PT's view, the DMK too realises that only a Congress candidate could find acceptance with the Left and other parties. And there lies the hope of a political realignment. However, sensing the mood in the DMK, sections of the Tamil Nadu BJP, with the blessings of the high command, are initiating efforts to cement the BJP-DMK ties. Thus, all the parties would have to make up their mind one way or the other in time for the byelection.
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