DMK to go it alone in 2014 polls; M Karunanidhi says Congress tainted entire party

Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi on Sunday ruled out alliance with exally Congress for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The packed hall at the DMK headquarters burst into applause, reflecting the strong anti-Congress mood in the party, when he made the announcement during his concluding remarks at the daylong session of the party’s key decision-making body, the general council.

DMK sources said Mr Karunanidhi indicated at the council meet that the BJP too would not be the ideal partner since the present leadership was nothing like the benevolent A B Vajpayee with whose NDA he could strike alliance with comfort. “Do not get carried away by the media hype about Modi”, he told his colleagues.

However, when reporters later asked him if the BJP could be ally option, the DMK chief sidestepped the query saying the party had formed a committee to decide on alliance. Earlier in the day, the general council authorised him and general secretary K Anbazhagan to “contact alliance parties, discuss seat sharing and announce a committee to take forward alliance for the elections,” according to a resolution it passed.

Not Kani, Raja but tainted whole of DMK: Karunanidhi

DMK president M. Karunanidhi charged Congress with having scarred the party with the label of corruption.

In his concluding remarks at the meeting of the party's key decisionmaking body, the General Council, DMK chief reported that the charges of corruption (in 2G spectrum case) made against party MPs A. Raja and Ms Kanimozhi are not taint against individuals but a taint against the party.

Accoridng to party leader, Karunanidh chose to rhetorically attack “those who dragged (Party MPs A. Raja and Kanimozhi) into the 2G spectrum case“ and “whose order CBI is taking“. It may be noted that opposition parties has been accusing the ruling congress party for misusing CBI against its opponent.

Senior DMK leaders including T. R. Baalu, K.Ponmudi, K. N. Nehru and Subulakshmi Jagadeesan spoke against aligning with the Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
They citied antiCongress sentiment prevailing in the state due to its inaction in the Sri Lankan Tamil issue and also its highhanded approach in running the central government.

Sources said hat Mr Baalu made a strong case against going with the BJP, as it would affect their Muslim vote bank.

“Minorities has always voted for us. Hence we should not join with BJP,” he said. Former DMK minister Ponmudi argued against aligning with DMDK as it would soon lose its relevance in the state politics. DMK MLA J. Anbazhan wanted the party to consider alliance with BJP if they approached us.

Party treasurer M. K. Stalin asked the party to follow footsteps of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa while dealing with the allies during seat sharing talks.

Earlier, the General Council granted complete authority to Karunanidhi and party General Secretary K Anbazhagan to discuss and decide alliance-related issues for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.