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Relations between the Congress and the DMK will take a hard knock after a CBI chargesheet in the 2G Spectrum case today named Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's daughter and MP Kanimozhi as an accused, but political realities will ensure that the two coalition partners do not part company in the near future.
The Congress would have been cornered had the CBI named Dayalu Ammal, mother of Karunanidhi's sons, MK Stalin and Union minister MK Alagiri as DMK leaders were upset when earlier reports had indicated that her name could be included in the list of accused.The Congress, however, got some breathing space as the CBI chargesheet today was silent on Dayalu Ammal ‘s role though her name had figured in the probe since she owns 60 per cent stake in family-owned Kalaignar TV which is alleged to have received200 crore from Shahid Balwa of Swan Telecom.Ties between the Congress and the DMK have been under strain ever since the 2G Spectrum scam came to light and had virtually reached breaking point when the they were involved in tough seat-sharing negotiation before the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The DMK had threatened to quit the UPA government and instead extend issue-based support to the ruling dispensation when their talks broke down.
The two parties survived that crisis as both sides were well-aware that their break-up would have serious political ramifications. While the Congress could have managed to compensate for the loss of 18 DMK Lok Sabha MPs by roping in other parties, the DMK was clearly more vulnerable. It was going into a crucial election against the backdrop of corruption charges, while fighting anti-incumbency. It could hardly afford to alienate the Congress which was propping up the Karuanidhi government even as its arch-rival AIADMK chief J.Jayalalithaa was open to joining hands with the grand old party.
It is the same political realities which will force the Congress and the DMK to stick together this time as well. Known to be an astute and pragmatic politician, Karunanidhi will definitely wait till the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results are declared on May 13 before taking any decision. The DMK would not like to alienate the Congress at this stage as it is entirely possible that it might need its support to form the next government.
On the other hand, if the DMK loses, which appears to be highly probable, it will be compelled to continue its association with the UPA government. “As far as we are concerned, it’s a win-win situation for us,” said a Congress leader.
The Congress would have been cornered had the CBI named Dayalu Ammal, mother of Karunanidhi's sons, MK Stalin and Union minister MK Alagiri as DMK leaders were upset when earlier reports had indicated that her name could be included in the list of accused.The Congress, however, got some breathing space as the CBI chargesheet today was silent on Dayalu Ammal ‘s role though her name had figured in the probe since she owns 60 per cent stake in family-owned Kalaignar TV which is alleged to have received200 crore from Shahid Balwa of Swan Telecom.Ties between the Congress and the DMK have been under strain ever since the 2G Spectrum scam came to light and had virtually reached breaking point when the they were involved in tough seat-sharing negotiation before the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The DMK had threatened to quit the UPA government and instead extend issue-based support to the ruling dispensation when their talks broke down.
The two parties survived that crisis as both sides were well-aware that their break-up would have serious political ramifications. While the Congress could have managed to compensate for the loss of 18 DMK Lok Sabha MPs by roping in other parties, the DMK was clearly more vulnerable. It was going into a crucial election against the backdrop of corruption charges, while fighting anti-incumbency. It could hardly afford to alienate the Congress which was propping up the Karuanidhi government even as its arch-rival AIADMK chief J.Jayalalithaa was open to joining hands with the grand old party.
It is the same political realities which will force the Congress and the DMK to stick together this time as well. Known to be an astute and pragmatic politician, Karunanidhi will definitely wait till the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results are declared on May 13 before taking any decision. The DMK would not like to alienate the Congress at this stage as it is entirely possible that it might need its support to form the next government.
On the other hand, if the DMK loses, which appears to be highly probable, it will be compelled to continue its association with the UPA government. “As far as we are concerned, it’s a win-win situation for us,” said a Congress leader.
