The adage that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies in politics is true to the Indian scenario than to any other country. The DMK and the Congress which came together in 2004, are reportedly estranged on account of the Congress handling of the 2G spectrum involving the DMK minister A. Raja. Apart from that, DMK also has a litany of complaints against the leaders of the UPA. This has pushed the DMK into cosying up with the BJP.
The 2G spectrum scam which occurred during UPA-I continues to dog it even in its second term. Even though the Congress did its best to protect its partner, the DMK feels its minister was not adequately defended. Added to that is the irritation caused by some senior and second-rung leaders in Tamil Nadu who have been speaking, out of turn, on the alliance issue despite the gag order in place. Realising that the DMK needs the congress more than ever, people like E.V.K.S. Elangovan and Karthick Chidambaram have started upping the ante by publicly demanding more seats to contest in the forth-coming polls. Most importantly, the cadres too have started appealing to Rahul Gandhi to consider being a part of an alliance where the Congress’ self-respect is not taken for granted. This indirectly is an appeal to break-free of the Congress.
Now, according to sources, there is an apprehension in Congress circles that the DMK might walk out of the alliance ahead of the state polls. The DMK too has started flexing its muscles by mending fences with the BJP. This could be explained by the fact that, a delegation led by the Tamil Nadu School Education minister Thangam Thennarasu visited Gujarat and requested Narendra Modi to help in securing the bronze statues of Rajaraja Cholan and his consort that is currently in a private museum of Vikram Sarabhai. This ostensibly was done as part of preparation for the up-coming millennium celebration of the Brahadeeswara temple in Tanjore. And the Gujarat CM too promised all help. But what raised eye-brows was the manner in which the entire visit was handled by the DMK government. The much fanfare that accompanied the post-visit publicity. The BJP for its part too has not gone hammer and tongs on A. Raja for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum scam unlike other parties which demanded his scalp. The BJP has confined itself to demanding that the law be allowed to take its own course. Added to that is the bonhomie that exists between the Tamil chief minister Mr Karunanidhi and his Karnataka counter-part, Mr Yeddyurappa.
The BJP though not a powerful force in the state of Tamil Nadu, according to sources, it makes sense for the DMK to align with a national party. And that is what even the BJP is looking for, in an attempt to open its account in the state Assembly. Which way the story goes is anybody’s guess.