CHENNAI: As the Sri Lankan Tamils issue and attack on state fishermen dominated the political scene in Tamil Nadu ahead of the April 24 Lok Sabha polls, Congress finds itself isolated in the electoral race with almost all parties choosing to stay away from it.
With former ally DMK virtually shutting the doors and DMDK inching towards BJP; Congress, which used to ride piggyback on either of the two major Dravidian parties — DMK or AIADMK, is staring at a repeat of the 1998 scenario when it was left to fend itself. The party then drew a blank.
Congress’ predicament, in the backdrop of corruption charges against the UPA Government headed by it, has become acute with the party’s stand opposing the release of seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
If AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa stole a march over others by directing the release of the seven life convicts, including Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan and Nalini, other parties including her arch rival DMK have welcomed it even as Tamil outfits are rejoicing over her move.
Congress was also at pains to give a convincing explanation over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC in Myanmar yesterday, which has been already opposed by DMK and Tamil outfits.
The meeting had come in the backdrop of growing clamor in the state for an India-sponsored separate resolution in the UNHRC against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes. India had voted in support of earlier US-sponsored resolutions on the same issue.
DMK, Congress’ key ally since 2004 prior to the break-up in March last year over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, had already ruled out reviving the alliance.
Party chief M Karunanidhi has said all doors were shut on more allies, putting an end to speculations of a patch-up following senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad calling on him here recently. . Feelers sent by some Congress leaders as a last ditch attempt failed to cut any ice with the DMK high command, who has been upset over the handling of the 2G scam by the UPA.
With actor-politician Vijayakant’s DMDK, which it had aggressively wooed, appeared to be close to clinching a deal with the BJP, Congress has no other option but to contest all the 39 seats on its own.
Ruling AIADMK has already sounded the poll bugle with Jayalalithaa launching her campaign from Monday after sewing up an alliance with CPI-M and CPI and announcing candidates.
Seat-sharing talks with the Left are still on.
DMK, which also tried hard to rope in DMDK, has finalized alliance with IUML, MMK and Puthiya Tamizhagam, allotting one seat each to them, while continuing parleys with VCK whose founder Thol Thirumavalavan is a Lok Sabha member.
State unit BJP leaders have worked out a deal with the DMDK and PMK subject to approval by the national leadership, party sources said.
Apart from these known parties, Aam Aadmi Party, which is contesting the Lok Sabha polls, is yet to announce its candidates for Tamil Nadu.
Anti-nuclear activist S P Udayakumar, who spearheaded the protest against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, has joined the AAP recently and his name is among those being considered, party sources said, adding they were likely to contest from 15 constituencies including from the Cauvery Delta region. –PTI
