Pat for TNCC chief from ally DMK

He has managed to get a reassurance from the DMK on alliance, at least for now and simultaneously silenced his detractors in the Congress who have been projecting him as a not-so-good friend of the Dravidian ally. 

The emphasis DMK working president MK Stalin laid on forming a secular government at the Centre and his generous praise for Thirunavukkarasar has surprised even a few known friends of the DMK in the Congress. So much so that a senior ex-MLA who was widely criticised for his extraordinary rapport with the DMK top brass has told his confidants that the incumbent TNCC chief has overpowered them in this round of the bout.

Notably, Thirunavukkarasar had his own share of ‘sacrifices’ to make to strengthen ties with Stalin who had no qualms about repeatedly thanking the TNCC chief for revising Indira anniversary celebrations schedule to his convenience. That Thirunavukkarasar has outwitted his intra-party rivals was evident in the glaring absence of former TNCC chief EVKS Elangovan and former party whip Peter Alphonse who organised a separate anniversary celebrations near Chennai on Sunday. 

“There was some uncertainty about the longevity of the DMK-Congress alliance after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gopalapuram. Thirunavukkarasar’s repeated assertion on the issue did not help, but it changed after he got Stalin to reassert his commitment to form a ‘secular’ Centre,” a TNCC functionary said, oblivious to the fact that Stalin had seldom uttered a word about Modi and BJP at the anniversary celebrations. 

“The DMK leadership has realised that going with the Congress was a better option. It is now obvious that the TNCC chief has secured his position for the time being and the influential Chidambaram stays neutral. Hence, the DMK has gladly accepted the olive branches from Thirunavukkarasar,” reasoned another Congress senior leader requesting anonymity, citing the recent potshots TNCC chief had taken at the AIADMK regime to indicate Thirunavukkarasar’s newfound love for the DMK.