Bitterness behind, MK swoons over Sonia

As events twist and turn with each passing day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s birthday on Thursday came as a big opportunity for the DMK to quickly mend fences with its coalition partner at the Centre, lest its principal rival the AIADMK steals the thunder in the run-up to the 2011 polls.

A pragmatic DMK president and Chief Minister M  Karunanidhi, who usually greets top UPA leaders on their respective birthdays, did not stop with his customary brief greetings on Thursday. Rather than wish her with flowers, he did it with flowery words.

In a superlative expression of warmth and gratitude, the DMK leader sought to minimise the damage done to his party’s alliance with the Congress, since Jayalalitha had offered support to the UPA in the event of A Raja’s sack as Telecom minister.

Ramping up his B-day greetings into a full-fledged letter, Karunanidhi in his message to Sonia paid her encomiums which normally is done only during poll campaigns.
Greetings to Sonia

“Under your guidance and meaningful monitoring, the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre has been providing good governance and resolving the problems of the masses to ensure peaceful and satisfied living for the people,” wrote Karunanidhi.

“You (Sonia) have been proving to the nation that you are a historic light of sacrifice, guiding the destiny of the country. People of Tamil Nadu have great love, affection and respect for the Gandhi-Nehru family. By your concern and continuous work for the welfare of the people, you have enhanced their love and support to the alliance headed by you.”

Thus in one stroke, Karunanidhi brushed aside his recent bitterness against the Congress, not only to keep the DMK’s alliance with it in tact, but also to ensure that Congress co-managed the political fallout of the CBI probe into the spectrum scam.

This seems all the more imperative, as things could worsen for Raja, his associates and family members in the wake of the raids at their residences on Wednesday.