Sonia rally a warning sign for DMK

Chennai: Her last few visits to Tamil Nadu was as the UPA chairperson. But last weekend Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the state was as the president of the party that once ruled the state — the party that is threatening to come out of the shadow of its regional ally “to recapture its distinct identity”. “In Tamil Nadu, we are in an alliance, and we respect the alliance. But simultaneously, we should not lose the identity of the Congress party... We should strengthen the organisation, knowing well that we are the party of the future, the main political outfit,” said Sonia, addressing a well-attended rally in Tiruchy on Saturday. This, she said, was a new beginning for the party in Tamil Nadu, urging the cadres to work harder for the public, especially women and the youth. The rally came at a time when the ground situation in Tamil Nadu politics remains in a state of flux, with only a few months left for the next Assembly elections. In the heart of this is the role the Congress will play in the polls. While the ostensible reason for Saturday’s rally was to celebrate the 125th year of Congress’s formation and to observe the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, it was a show of strength by the party which is the most sought after ally ahead of elections. The choice of venue is also significant. In the last two months, Tiruchy witnessed mammoth rallies organised first by the AIADMK and then by the DMK — both efforts at exhibiting their ground support. The Congress had to put up a show to display its might to other parties and galvanise its cadres into election mode as well. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi along with his wife Dayaluammal, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Ministers Dayanidhi Maran and senior DMK leader T R Baalu met Sonia when she arrived at the Chennai airport. Again, though the meeting was apparently to hand over a memo seeking the UPA chairperson’s intervention in rehabilitating Sri Lankan Tamils, political circles here interpreted it as the DMK going more than halfway to meet an important ally. However, it would take more than courtesy to ensure the Congress’s support in the coming elections. After helping the DMK run the government for nearly a full term, the Congress leaders here want a change in the equation. This new-found self-assertion stems from the fact that the Opposition AIADMK is also attempting to forge a partnership with it for the coming polls, as are a few of the smaller parties. Opposition leader J Jayalalithaa has never concealed her enthusiasm, asking the Congress leadership only a few days ago to reconsider its decision about the alliance with DMK. The more zealous, like former Union Minister and TNCC president E V K S Elangovan, want to take the party back to the pre-’67 era, the ‘golden era’ of Tamil Nadu Congress when legendary leader K Kamaraj was at the helm. The idea to lead a coalition understandably has the support of the young blood, the Youth Congress men who are now on a ‘padyatra’ from the southern border of Tamil Nadu to Chennai. On the other side, there are senior leaders including TNCC president KV Thangka Balu who do not support such a drastic step — that is unless the high command wishes so. A few MLAs point out that the party has enjoyed a largely stable alliance with the DMK despite the squabbles. Once the ruling party of Tamil Nadu for decades, Congress was reduced to the Opposition benches by the DMK; and later on to the margins by the advent of the AIADMK. The situation changed when coalition politics became the norm. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Sonia-rally-a-warning-sign-for-DMK/696155/