DMK to intensify attacks on BJP
After the election of three AIADMK MPs to the Rajya Sabha, the AIADMK's strength had gone up to 13.
Chennai: With the AIADMK’s clout in Delhi going up with 50 MPs in Parliament who are much needed for the BJP government to pass crucial Bills, the DMK is moving towards to a strong anti-saffron line.
Although, the BJP is comfortable in the Lok Sabha, it needs the support of other parties in the Rajya Sabha as it does not have the required strength to pass Bills. After the election of three AIADMK MPs to the Rajya Sabha, the AIADMK’s strength had gone up to 13. The total number of AIADMK MPs is now 50, making it the third biggest party in the country.
Ahead of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s visit to Delhi on June 14, the DMK senses that the BJP is trying to placate the AIADMK after the saffron party’s rout in the Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lost no time in greeting AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa for the success in the Assembly polls and the state BJP unit had stopped its attacks on the ruling party.
DMK leader M. Karunanidhi had earlier appreciated the BJP on some issues including revision of the ST list and followed an issue-based approach towards the BJP. However, two weeks after the Assembly election results, on June 3, the DMK chief strongly attacked Modi for greeting Jayalalithaa before the announcement of election results.
Karunanidhi also wanted the unity of ‘democratic, socialist and secular forces in the country”. His statement assumes significance at it came at a time when disciples of Socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia, are trying to cobble together a new front at the national level.
The DMK leaders will be keenly watching the kind of welcome for Jayalalithaa at the national capital and the Centre’s responses to the Chief Minister’s various demands. The DMK will have no option left other than to strongly oppose the BJP, when it becomes a close friend of DMK’s arch political rival.
However, one of the DMK functionaries said the party had always stood for secularism and democracy, irrespective of political alliances at the national level and the party would continue its fight for secular, democratic principles. Even when the DMK was part of the Vajpayee government, it was based on a promise that the Centre would not follow a communal agenda, he added.