Miffed at local Cong leaders’ attitude, DMK skips Oppn meet

DMK kept away from the meeting despite its Parliamentary party leader T R Baalu staying in Delhi on Monday, understandably, to register its dissatisfaction towards Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri publicly questioning its commitment to “alliance dharma” during the first round of civic polls.

Though the DMK did not officially state the reason for its abstention, sources in the party confirmed that it was done to convey its dissatisfaction to the Congress leadership vis-à-vis the attitude of its leaders in Tamil Nadu, mainly former union finance minister P Chidambaram and Alagiri who had vented their frustration at the DMK meting out a raw deal to them in civic poll seat-sharing.

That the DMK has cold shouldered Congress, despite Alagiri issuing two reconciliatory statements, including one late on Sunday night, was testimony  to the frustration of the Dravidian major, which was displeased by Alagiri issuing a reactionary statement a day ahead of the rural local body indirect election in which cross voting by the national party councilors also contributed to its poor showing.

“They (Congress) cannot take us for granted. We did it deliberately. Would they have won even nine MPs or so many councilor seats without us? Let the reality sink in. AICC leaders must have got in touch with Tamil Nadu Congress leaders by now,” a DMK senior who did not wish to be named said. When contacted, Alagiri told DT Next, “I was not invited for the meeting. I don’t know what transpired there. You should ask them (DMK) why they boycotted.”

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