New Delhi, Dec. 12: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo, Mr M. Karunanidhi, unnerved by the events of the last few weeks is now toying with the idea of removing the former Union telecom minister, Mr A. Raja, from the party, only to retrieve lost ground, ahead of the crucial Assembly polls slated for April-May, 2011.
Everything was going well for the DMK until the Adarsh scam. The day the Congress secured the resignation of the Maharashtra former chief minister, Mr Ashok Chavan, and the Commonwealth Games (CWG) chief, Mr Suresh Kalmadi, just to neutralise the Opposition attack in the Winter Session of Parliament, unwittingly it put its alliance partner, the DMK in dire straits.
The leakage of the Niira Radia tapes compounded problems not only for the beleagured Mr Raja but also for the DMK’s first family.
The power tussle that has been going on within the Karunanidhi family has always been a thorn in the flesh for the veteran DMK leader.
Mr Raja who belongs to the Rajathiammal camp, in the aftermath of his resignation, was told not to appear in public events in the company of the Chief Minister. The last event in which he was allowed to stand beside the Chief Minister was during the marriage of Mr M.K. Alagiri’s son.
When the CBI raid was on at Mr Raja’s different residences, Mr Karunanidhi had a meeting with his sons,
Mr M.K. Alagiri and Mr M.K. Stalin. Mr Alagiri very strongly argued in favour of throwing Mr Raja out of the party and the DMK chief did not utter a word disapproving Mr Alagiri’s views.
But the problem for the DMK patriarch is that, Mr Raja not only has the backing of Rajathiammal but he is also a dalit.