Fear forces DMK to stay with UF
N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi is sticking to the United Front because of his fear of dismissal by a Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre.
Though the party had toyed with the idea of abstaining from voting like the Telugu Desam Party, a constituent of the United Front, it does not want to be left 'friendless' at the national level, according to informed sources.
''Though the BJP leadership has resisted the 'veiled demands' of its ally All India Anna DMK, we do not know how far can they hold out if they want the continuance of their own government at Delhi, if formed,'' says a DMK source.
What has worried the DMK is the 'modified' BJP stand: that a party government at the Centre would not dismiss the DMK regime to satisfy anyone's whims, but will not be found wanting, if 'new developments' demand central intervention.
The first part of the stand, or the original position of the BJP, has been known all along, strengthened as it has been with the recent Uttar Pradesh developments. But the second part, relating to 'new developments', is said to be aimed at addressing AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha's 'political concerns' even as the DMK finds itself effectively marginalised in decision-making.
Even if the DMK abstains from a confidence vote in favour of the BJP, it would not help matters should the AIADMK and its non-BJP allies, with 27 MPs, press the issue after a BJP government sails through in Parliament.
The DMK leadership is convinced that the AIADMK's decision to stay away from a BJP government had as much to do with Jayalalitha's demand for the state government dismissal as to her own 'unwillingness' to let other power-centres grow in the party.
Intelligence sources have told the government that there was no death in any family close to Jayalalitha's, demanding her return to Madras after her decision to stay put in Delhi for about a week.
''Her talks with the BJP leadership at Delhi did not go in her favour, and the return was her way of sending out a message,'' says the DMK source. ''If the death of a former minister's mother was the cause for her return, she has not called on the family as yet.''
If the AIADMK does not want to pressure the BJP too much at this stage, it is only because Jayalalitha knows that the poll mandate was more a vote for the Vajpayee leadership than for her own return to power in the state. ''Hence she cannot jeopardise the chance of the BJP forming a government at the Centre, and pay the price for it in electoral terms, later.''
The DMK leadership is also concerned about the 'new developments' clause laid down by the BJP. ''That's an invitation to anarchy, and political recklessness by the AIADMK and its allies,'' says the DMK leader, foreseeing the possibility of the Opposition resorting to direct action, submitting corruption charges, launching demonstrations and the like.
In this context, he also refers to Karunanidhi's statement that the Coimbatore blasts would have to be viewed from a 'new angle' without stopping with the possible involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.
The DMK hopes that its 'political compulsions' in backing the United Front would be well understood by the BJP, which had otherwise had hoped that the Tamil Nadu ruling party would be on its side, in whatever form. It also counts on the goodwill of 'long-standing' BJP allies like the Samata Party and the Akali Dal, to come to its rescue in times of need.
Elections '98
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