Keeping its national ally Congress on the tenterhooks, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu appears to be dragging its feet on constituting a panel to hold seat-sharing talks for the coming assembly election, likely to be barely two months away.
Apparently irked by the demand for a share in power raised by a section of the Congress in the State, the DMK, which was initially inclined to seal the deal with the Congress first, is yet to form a committee to carry on the tough task of seat sharing with alliance partners. The silence of DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, who enjoys a great personal rapport with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, has baffled the local Congress leaders.
If the demand for power sharing was an irritant, a section of the Congress being very vocal in pitching for an alliance with actor Vjiay’s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TMK) on the ground that would be in the long-term interest of the party, has raised the hackles of the DMK rank and file. This is the reason for the DMK to prolong the start of formal process of seat-sharing, observe analysts, adding that this is a strategy of the Dravidian major to make the Congress see the reality of where it stands electorally in this crucial southern state.
On her part, DMK leader Kanimozhi, on Thursday, reiterated that though seat-sharing talks were underway with the Congress, it will be left to the Committee appointed for that purpose to discuss seat allocation and related issues. “Talks are underway on alliance, but the decision on the number of seats and constituencies each constituent of the DMK-led alliance would contest will be taken up by the panel to be constituted for the purpose by the leadership. They will announce the numbers,” the DMK deputy general secretary and the party’s Parliamentary Party leader told reporters at the party headquarters ‘Anna Arivalayam’ in Chennai on Thursday.
However, she declined to respond to a query whether the Congress was demanding more seats, punching above its weight. It is significant that she was deputed to hold talks with Rahul Gandhi when the chorus for power sharing from the Congress was endorsed Kirish Chodankar, heading the Congress panel constituted in November last, had endorsed it. And, it is reported that the DMK had made it clear to Gandhi that power-sharing was non-negotiable and out of question and that the Congress could be accommodated in the civic bodies.
Interestingly, the Congress panel had made a courtesy call on Stalin shortly after it was constituted. But now, Chodankar is awaiting a call from Arivalayam even after those who raised the demand for power-share have gone into silent mode, reportedly after receiving a drubbing from Rahul.