Political situation in Tamil Nadu continues to be fluid, even as the assembly poll schedule is expected to be announced in March. Not only is the rift widening between DMK and Congress, but even the main opposition in the state—AIADMK—is struggling to unite its leaders. AIADMK leader Sasikala is all set to start a new political party by 24th February.
Tamil Nadu Political Scene Remains Fluid (Image Source: Internet)
Chennai: The simmering debate over power sharing in Tamil Nadu has triggered not just friction between the Congress and its ally, the DMK, but also exposed sharp internal rifts within the Congress itself, with the state PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) warning its leaders not to issue statements against the DMK, as per Dynamite News correspondent.
PCC chief K. Selvaperunthagai, on Monday, publicly rebuked party MP Manickam Tagore for raising the issue of power sharing with the ruling DMK at a district-level meeting in Madurai. Tagore demanded not just an alliance but also power sharing in the state, which was rejected by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
The PCC chief warned that the AICC had already issued clear instructions that alliance matters should not be discussed publicly. He said, "Our leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and K.C. Venugopal will take care of the alliance matters." When the elections are fast approaching, Congress leaders airing their views would create confusion, the PCC chief added.
On the other hand, within the AIADMK, things are going from bad to worse as the party is vertically split and fragmented, struggling to unite its leaders. As a result, the BJP, which is trying to align with AIADMK to take on the ruling DMK, is not able to move forward to knit a broad alliance in Tamil Nadu.
The AIADMK general secretary E.K. Palaniswamy has refused to accommodate former interim general secretary Sasikala and former chief minister O. Panneerselvam in the alliance.
Sasikala, who was close to former chief minister Jayalalithaa, is trying to float a new Dravidian political outfit with the support of a major faction of the AIADMK. With Jayalalithaa's birth anniversary falling on February 24, pressure is mounting to launch the new party on that date.
