Political realignment gaining momentum in Tamil Nadu

The political clock in Tamil Nadu has begun ticking faster with Assembly elections about a year and a half away.

The Modi wave that swept the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power at the Centre and in some states has led Dravidian parties in the state to ponder over various options to retain their strongholds.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko, who had an unceremonious exit from the current main opposition party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1993, is now keen on stitching together an alliance against the AIADMK and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

 The move for the alliance came at a wedding reception of the granddaughter of S Ramadoss, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder. Vaiko met DMK chief M Karunanidhi and heir apparent M K Stalin, setting off speculation for a new Dravidian grand alliance.

 “I was associated with the DMK several decades ago. I was greatly inspired by Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) when I met him for the first time during my college days,” Vaiko said during the marriage function, thus indicating his interest to join the DMK-led alliance.

 “We are not enemies. We are long-time friends,” agreed Karunanidhi a day after the function.  Though Vaiko was non-committal on whether he would join the DMK alliance, his discontent with the AIADMK and NDA governments was clear.

 “If Vaiko joins our party it gives formidable strength to face AIADMK in the coming Assembly polls,” Kalairasan, a senior zonal secretary of the DMK said.

Significantly, the Congress, riddled with internal fighting, appears to be in shambles after drawing a blank in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

Former Union shipping minister G K Vasan, the son of prominent Tamil Nadu Congress leader the late G K Moopanar, has clearly indicated that he is going to break away from the Congress and revive the Tamil Manila Congress.  This move will bring cheer to AIADMK cadres as Vasan is known to be sympathetic to Jayalalitha.