Congress and DMDK set to go hand in hand?

Though AICC vice-president Mr. Rahul Gandhi greeting Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Mr. Vijayakant on his birthday [Aug 25, 2013] is seen as an important development, Congress leaders in the State refuse to read more into it, saying the situation is still in a flux to talk about alliance.

An AICC secretary from the State said that, today, in Tamil Nadu, both the Congress and the DMK are almost in the same position. While the DMDK, which has consolidated anti-Dravidian forces to certain extent, has succeeded in establishing itself as a force to reckon with, the Congress could not do it because it never capitalised the anti-Dravidian sentiments in the State.

Besides Mr. Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, TNCC president B.S. Gnanadesikan, Union Ministers G.K. Vasan and E.M. Sudarsan Natchiappan were among those who wished the DMDK leader on his birthday.

The Congress secretary said Mr. Gandhi and Vijayakant established contacts after the DMDK sought the support of the Congress for its candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls. But, finally, Congress decided to support DMK candidate Ms. Kanimozhi. This goes to prove that our party would rely on either of the Dravidian parties when it comes to Lok Sabha polls.

Another Congress leader dismissed the argument that Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s birthday message to Mr. Vijayakant assumed significance because he never greeted DMK president M. Karunanidhi or called on him during his visit to Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that on the occasion of Mr. Karunanidhi’s birthday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted him every time.

Despite displaying themselves as friendly towards the DMDK, the Congress leaders say it is “too early” to come to the conclusion on the alliance as it is not clear whether Mr. Vijayakant would agree to be a constituent of the front that includes the DMK.

          Congress sources said that, they want to form a broad alliance. But, also feel enthused by the Congress’ performance in the Lok Sabha by-elections in Karnataka and the changed attitude of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa towards the Food Security Bill. Though there are ifs and buts in her stand, this is for the first time that she is seen to be favourably disposed towards Congress party.

DMDK loses one more MLA to Jaya

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam MLA R. Santhi called on Chief Minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat, taking the number of rebel MLAs to six. Ms. Santhi, representing Senthamangalam constituency of the Namakkal district, told reporters later that in her meeting with the Chief Minister, she gave a petition on development works in her constituency. She also greeted Ms. Jayalalithaa on completion of two years in office. The MLA refused to answer questions on the status of her relationship with her party.

Since the DMDK and the AIADMK fell apart openly in February last year, five DMDK MLAs –

·        R. Sundarrajan (Madurai Central Assembly)

·        K. Tamil Azhagan (Tittakudi in Cuddalore district)

·        C. Arun Pandian (Peravurani in Thanjavur)

·        Michael Royappan (Radhapuram in Tirunelveli) and

·        T. Suresh Kumar (Chengam in Tiruvannamalai)

met the Chief Minister in October 2012 and February 2013.

On February 8 this year, the Assembly witnessed an unsavoury scene when MLAs loyal to the DMDK leadership got into fisticuffs with the rebel MLAs, who spoke in support of the AIADMK. A month later, six DMDK MLAs were suspended for one year originally, but the quantum of punishment was reduced to six months subsequently. Even though the five rebel MLAs in the House are seated separately, the official strength of the DMDK remains at 29. It is because of this position that the party is regarded as the principal Opposition party.

Yesterday’s (May 29, 2013) meeting evoked greater curiosity in view of the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections, which may be held in June to fill vacancies for six seats.

Predictably, the Namakkal district unit of the DMDK criticised Ms. Santhi for her action. DMDK party said that, she has betrayed the party. Ms. Santhi, one of the two DMDK MLAs from Namakkal, is the secretary of the party’s district women’s wing. Till 2005, she remained with the AIADMK, after which she joined the DMDK. In the 2006 Assembly elections, she contested unsuccessfully from Senthamangalam.

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DMDK MLAs suspension - questions ahead

            Six MLAs of the Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) were suspended from the Assembly for one year for their involvement in the attack on S. Michael Rayappan, Radhapuram MLA, in early February. When Speaker P. Dhanapal announced his ruling, many Opposition parties including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress and the Puthiya Tamizhagam staged a walk out, shouting slogans against the decision.

Immediately after question hour, chairman of the Privileges Committee and Deputy Speaker Pollachi V. Jayaraman submitted the panel’s recommendations to the House, which were accepted by voice vote amid protests from sections of the Opposition, which wanted a discussion.

Mr. Dhanapal announced that the six members –

·        Mr. V. C. Chandhirakumar (Erode East)

·        Mr. K. Nallathambi (Egmore)

·        Mr. D. Murugesan (Chengalpattu)

·        Mr. S. Senthilkumar (Tiruverumbur)

·        Mr. B. Parthasarathy (Virugambakkam)

·        Mr. R. Arulselvan (Mayiladuthurai)

would remain suspended from the House for one year and would not draw salary or enjoy other concessions entitled to them.

The Speaker said there was no need for discussion on the issue as all members were witness to what happened on February. The video recording of the incident was shown to the privilege panel members to ascertain the identities of those involved. Moreover, the committee, which discussed the issue before coming out with its recommendations, had representations from various parties. While describing the action of the suspended members as unbecoming of their position, the Speaker asked whether the Opposition felt that nothing had happened. He then ordered the suspended members to leave the House.

On February 8, 2013 a clash erupted between loyal DMDK members and rebels who spoke in support of the ruling party. Some of them exchanged blows with Mr. Michael Rayappan. The Speaker referred the issue to the Privileges Committee under Rule 226 of the Assembly Rules after Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam demanded appropriate action, describing the incident as “barbaric and shameful.” The incident took place after a rebel MLA, K. Tamil Azhagan, raising a supplementary query during question hour, asked other members of the DMDK to follow his example in serving the people of the constituency – a reference to his meeting the Chief Minister to discuss constituency matters.

Can they take part in RS polls?

The suspension of six Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) MLAs has sparked a debate on the question whether the suspended members could take part in the Rajya Sabha elections to be held a few months later. While one school of thought is of the view that the MLAs would not be able to take part in the polls so long as their membership stands suspended, another school says that the punishment of suspension essentially pertains to their functioning as MLAs but cannot be extended to the Rajya Sabha elections, the participation of which does not form part of proceedings of the Assembly.

Asked for his view, Praveen Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer, says that when and if the matter comes up before him, it would be referred to the Election Commission. It is up to the EC to take a final view on the matter. The language used in the resolution that was adopted by the Assembly on the punishment would have to be perused, apart from examining precedents, if any. Technically speaking, the DMDK has 29 MLAs, even though five of them are functioning independent of the line of approach of the party leadership. With the suspension of six MLAs, the effective strength comes down to 23 which includes the five rebel MLAs.

This also triggers a question over the status of the DMDK as an important Opposition party.

Thanks to its original strength, the party was recognised so and its leader, Vijayakant, as Leader of Opposition. As per the Assembly rules, a party which has secured more than quorum strength – (For Tamil Nadu it is 24 seats in the Assembly polls) – will be recognised as a legislature party and the one having the largest number of Members other than the ruling party will be the principal Opposition party.