IT was a successful year for the ruling DMK and its ally Congress in Tamil Nadu while the opposition parties faced electoral defeats.
The DMK did well in both the Lok Sabha elections and the by-elections. The ruling party also increased its tally in the State Assembly to 99. But, it earned the wrath of the Opposition as well as Tamil outfits on the Lankan Tamils issue. Besides, unlike 2004, the DMK could not call the shots at Centre this time around on the choice of ministerial berths in the UPA II government because of the increased strength of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections.
After a bitter bargain, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had to return to Chennai literally empty-handed, boycotting the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet at New Delhi. The Congress-led UPA government also embarrassed the DMK when it gave permission to Kerala for undertaking a survey for constructing a new dam along the existing Mullaiperiyar dam and when it rejected the possibility of inter- linking of national rivers.
Though the DMK has been talking about State autonomy for many years, party chief and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi laid special stress on the demand this year on a couple of occasions, including his birthday. He took pride in claiming that the DMK had, over a period of time, become a pan-Indian party not only in terms of the number of MPs and ministers but also in spirit.
The DMK chief declared that his Gopalapuram residence would be converted into a hospital after his and his wife’s demise. A couple of months later, his three sons — M K Stalin, M K Thamizharasu and M K Azhagiri signed a document in this regard in front of an official of the registration department.
Karunanidhi fell ill due to his prolonged back pain problem and was admitted at hospital, skipping the Republic Day celebrations. Later, he underwent a spine surgery and could not undertake strenuous campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
Forced by his ill-health, he elevated Stalin as the Deputy CM and very soon most of the important portfolios looked after by the CM were transferred to him. The year also saw the elevation of the elder son of the DMK chief, M K Azhagiri as the south zone organising secretary of the DMK and a minister in the Union cabinet. For the AIADMK, this year did not bring rich electoral dividends.
After the Lok Sabha elections, the PMK, theCPI and the CPM snapped their ties with the AIADMK. But the party continued to organise many agitations throughout the State on various issues. The year also saw the expulsion of Anitha R Radhakrishnan and actor S Ve Shekher from the primary membership of the party.
The MDMK had faced a jolt when one of its founding members M Kannappan returned to his maternal party, DMK, followed by his colleague and MLA, Cumbum N Ramakrishnan.
The PMK, which switched sides from the DMK to the AIADMK, drew a blank in the parliamentary elections.
The Congress continued to be a good ally of the DMK, except for the demands made by a section of the leaders for sharing power in Tamil Nadu. But they have given up the idea as the DMK chief is no mood to yield.
The DMDK led by Vijaykanth continued to play the spoiler for major political parties during Lok Sabha elections and the by-elections.
However, it lost its deposits in the recently held Tiruchendur and Vandavasi by-elections.