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Gujral is safe, even if Jain panel raps DMK
N Sathiya Moorthy in Madras
The Inder Kumar Gujral government may not be affected even if the Jain Commission probing the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case makes adverse remarks against the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham.
Cadre sentiments and media reports notwithstanding, the Tamil
Maanila Congress may not push its alliance with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu to a point of no return on the basis of the Commission's interim report.
A lot, however, will depend on the Commission's exact findings on the DMK government's role in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam strengthening its base in the state between 1989 and 1991, months before the former prime minister's assassination.
''The TMC leadership is torn between two extremes,'' says a party
leader. ''On the one hand, we have the cadres who have not forgiven the DMK for 'back-stabbing' our supremo G K Moopanar in the prime ministerial race in April. They are waiting to settle scores. On the other hand, there is Moopanar's political pragmatism that sees the need for continuing the alliance, if only to keep the AIADMK out.''
Indications are that the leadership may use the proposed TMC executive committee meeting to let the second-line leadership
to have their say. And let off steam, particularly on the Jain
panel report, if the findings go against the DMK.
A final decision in this regard, however, may be left to Moopanar, as has been the tradition with the 18-month-old party.
''My feeling is that Moopanar may not take any hasty step, though
he may throw enough hints about parting ways and pursuing an independent line,'' said the leader.
According to this source, the TMC's anti-DMK hype may not have Moopanar's sanction. ''True, the views reflect cadre sentiments and the public mood. But whether the leaders are working to a strategy evolved by the leadership is a different issue,'' he said.
The source claimed that Moopanar has ticked off a senior
leader for taking on the state government too often. As the source
pointed out, Moopanar also intervened to ensure that leader of the Opposition in the state assembly S Balakrishnan called off his indefinite fast over the drinking water shortage in Ramanathapuram district last week.
Moopanar also stopped the publication of a member of Parliament's counter-offensive against six DMK ministers's allegations against the TMC earlier this week.
''Moopanar is keen that the TMC should form the state government some day,'' said the source. ''But he is also pragmatic and is not given to sentiments and hype. He is a cool and cold political operator, and knows his strengths, weaknesses.''
As a result, the TMC-DMK alliance will continue for the next Lok Sabha election, if held within the next six months. ''The real drift between the two parties will commence only then, and will be completed in time for the next assembly election, four years from now.''
That being the case, said the source, there is no real threat
to the United Front government from the DMK-TMC skirmishes. The Gujral government may at the most suffer some bruises, which it is used to since its inception.
''For,"said the source, "Moopanar knows the politician in Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, and also some TMC leaders's avarice which will be exposed if he starts playing the Mr Clean card."
EARLIER REPORTS:
Jain Commission interim report silent on conspiracy angle
Chidambaram, DMK on a collision course
Jain Commission report may upset UF applecart
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