Threat of fissures as Kashmir disturbs DMK-led alliance

Though the controversial abrogation of Article 370 appears to be the spoiler in the alliance, insiders admit that there are more to it than what meets the eye. The rabble-rousing statements of Congress and MDMK leaders had only exposed the deep-rooted animosity buried under the veil of alliance etiquette. That Vaiko had called the Congress a ‘sinner’ and Congress leader EVKS Elangovan described Vaiko as a political orphan was enough to understand that Kashmir was ipso facto not the real irritant. Suspicion raised by State Congress president KS Alagiri that Vaiko was running roughshod over the Congress to please Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah had allayed doubts, if any, over the longevity of the alliance.

Congress leaders, under the condition of anonymity, admitted that Vaiko’s tirade in the Parliament was deliberate. Add Vaiko’s rendezvous with BJP leaders in the fortnight prior to the frontal verbal assault on the grand old party in the Rajya Sabha, it only confirms fears of TN Congress that it was a premeditated political move of the MDMK general secretary. “He visited BJP leaders with his family. He had time to meet several BJP and UPA leaders, but not a few minutes for our party president Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. The visits followed the speech in Parliament. What should we understand from that?” asked a Congress senior, before alleging that the MDMK leader might have had the blessing of DMK top brass. DMK president MK Stalin’s silence on the Congress-MDMK face-off had only fueled the speculation. MDMK spokespersons had only contributed to the already sour relationship by publicly arguing that their political appointments need not be fixed in consultation with Congress. Just when it appeared that the Congress-MDMK ties have reached a point of no return, Stalin had pitched in to save the alliance.

Stalin had brokered peace between Vaiko and Alagiri separately on the sidelines of the all-party meet (Alagiri deputed KV Thangkabalu to attend the national party meeting) on Kashmir. However, the damage was done by then. Vaiko was understood to have clarified to his party functionaries that relationship with DMK was their only concern. “Ties with DMK is good. We don’t have to worry about the Congress,” an MDMK leader privy to the development quoted Vaiko as saying in a recent meeting at party headquarters.

The course of the recent developments has also made observers wonder if the DMK, which has been relatively soft in its critique of Modi and BJP top brass of late, has engaged Vaiko to keep a channel open with the BJP. Significantly, the DMK has called for a meeting of its MPs to be held on August 21 at Anna Arivalayam, again to discuss their approach towards Delhi. In announcing the meeting without mentioning the agenda the DMK leadership has only kept Congress leaders here thinking.

“There is no change in our partnership with Congress now. We will not warm up to the BJP. Our commitment to being anti-communal formation will remain unchanged. But we might change our approach towards the BJP. We will know then,” said a DMK senior, conceding that there were a handful of leaders who were favourably disposed to having a cordial working relationship with the ruling BJP.

“Even the losing alliance is intact. Indeed, the AIADMK is being pally with BJP to save the government. But there was no reason for Congress and MDMK to quarrel over Kashmir. Vaiko does not make a move in a spur of the moment. Trading personal charges over Kashmir is an indication that the two parties are not cordial,” the DMK leader reasoned, before denying that they had engaged Vaiko to test Congress patience.