After suddenly becoming an unwanted guest of the Congress at the Centre, following its drubbing in the Assembly elections, the DMK is buying time to overcome the debacle and decide its course of action at New Delhi.
With the party standing at the cross-roads, pressure is mounting on the DMK leadership to take a firm decision to shed its image as a party promoting dynastic politics.
Scores of functionaries meeting DMK president M. Karunanidhi are explaining the reasons, spectrum scam and interference of his family in party and government affairs, for the astonishing debacle.
Concerned at the DMK being pushed to the third place in the Assembly, noted writer Solai has openly asked Mr Karunanidhi to sideline his kith and kin in party affairs, barring Mr Stalin.
He said Mr Stalin has attained the stature of a political leader in his own right. A section of the functionaries has been suggesting that the DMK ministers resign from the Central government.
A senior functionary pointed out that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has so far not called her ally, Mr Karunanidhi, to offer solace; instead, she called up Ms Jayalalithaa to greet her.
Though the leader described Mrs Gandhi’s call to Ms Jayalalithaa a “courtesy call” since she had also congratulated Congress rebel N. Rangasamy for his win in Puducherry, the senior leader also said, “We know the culture of the Congress and read the writing on the wall. They may try to dump us. At least to protect our self-respect, we should walk out early.”
But Mr Karunanidhi is no hurry.
“He is listening to us patiently but not reacting,” one of his close aides said, adding that “He will not take any drastic decision at this juncture”.