CHENNAI: The growing bonhomie between the DMK and Congress ever since EVKS Elangovan took over as the TNCC president has enthused the functionaries of the national party, which hopes to find a place in a major alliance for the 2016 Assembly election and survive the onslaught of GK Vasan’s Tamil Maanila Congress.
The charges levelled by Elangovan against the AIADMK government on several issues are being quoted elaborately by DMK leader M Karunanidhi, who did not share a good rapport with the former TNCC president B S Gnanadesikan. The previous TN Congress chief had often rubbed the DMK leader on the wrong side with his vitriolic comments leading to Karunanidhi coming out with angry rebuttals. Except from reacting to comments by Gnanadesikan, the DMK leader ignored him.
With the change of guard at the TNCC, all the bitterness between the two parties has become a thing of the past. The allegations levelled against the AIADMK government by EVKS has only brought the DMK and the Congress closer. The DMK leader, writing in his party organ ‘Murasoli’, always cites Elangovan’s charges before adding his quota of comments and accusations to that. At the 125th birth anniversary celebrations that was held recently at the TNCC headquarters Satyamurthy Bhavan, Congress leaders called for a secular front along with Left parties. The IUML leader Khader Moideen, an ally of the DMK too attended the function and said the alliance should include the DMK as well.
The DMK leader’s birthday greetings to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday went beyond the usual courtesies and lauded Sonia’s qualities. The DMK leader described the Congress as ‘a great party in crisis’ and appreciated Sonia Gandhi for keeping the party ‘lively’. He also praised the Congress leader for facing the political crisis with grit and determination.
After parting ways in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the two parties have not found any new alliance partners. Both parties were routed in the Parliament elections and are in need of allies for the forthcoming Assembly elections.