Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DPA partners harp on unity

S.Dorairaj

NEWSANALYSIS Strategy discussed to tackle announcement-a-day policy

CHENNAI: : At a time when the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government is coming up with new welfare measures and concessions to every section, the Opposition Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) is busy shaping its strategy to meet this challenge.

DPA leaders understand the import of these announcements, but hope that "people will see through this game."

Besides countering this announcement-a-day policy of the Jayalalithaa Government through a slew of projects being sanctioned for Tamil Nadu by the coalition government at the Centre, the focus of the opposition alliance now seems to be on building unity and cohesion among its constituents. The theme of unity pervaded the deliberations of the DPA leaders here on July 13.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi set the tone for the meeting, stressing the need for the allies to function cohesively. But the task does not seem to be so simple as perceived by some DPA leaders because of a sharp difference of approach among the partners to vital issues.

Almost all DPA parties wanted the combine to go all out to consolidate its gain in the last Lok Sabha election. The need for shaking off complacency and honing the efficiency of the alliance to face the Assembly elections with the same force as it fought the Lok Sabha poll was also stressed to oust the AIADMK from power.

According to DPA sources, the parties, having different ideologies, put forth suggestions to take on the AIADMK in the Assembly elections in light of the ruling party's systematic efforts to refurbish its image and enlarge its support base. Some of the alliance partners did not miss the opportunity to air their views on issues they considered vital to the very survival of the people. For instance, the Left parties are stated to have urged the allies not to undermine the AIADMK's attempts to woo the voters. Though a major section of the urban middle class still nurtured its ire against the Government, welfare measures such as the free cycle and textbook schemes and the restoration of benefits to the government employees were likely to have a favourable impact on the poor in rural areas, besides the government employees, they felt.

Cauvery issue

On the Cauvery issue too, the participants wanted the Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from the State to make special efforts to secure the State's rightful share of water. A DPA delegation will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after his return from the United States.

The possible adverse impact of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government's decisions, such as the increase in the prices of petroleum products and disinvestment of profit-making public sector units, should not be ignored, it was felt.

Commending the DPA activists for "exposing nine lakh bogus applications" submitted for inclusion during the rolls revision, some of the partners pointed out the grey areas on this score.

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