With TMC leaders resigning from the Rajya Sabha, the ruling alliance gets a chance to iron out its differences

By L.R. Jagdheesan

It is not the best of times for the ruling DMK and Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) alliance in Tamil Nadu. Already under strain, thanks to the constant squabbling among its partners, the alliance was put to further test last week after the sudden resignation on "technical grounds" from the Rajya Sabha of TMC chief G.K. Moopanar and his trusted aides, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayanthi Natarajan and party general-secretary Peter Alphonse. Typically, Moopanar has scoffed at speculation that the resignations will adversely affect the alliance. The question on everyone's lips is: will the DMK help its partner retain these seats or does it have an eye on them itself? The TMC camp, however, appears unfazed. Says a party general-secretary: "If we need the DMK's help to retain the three Rajya Sabha seats, the DMK needs our help to win back the Aruppukottai and Coonoor assembly seats."

The combine's well-wishers feel the latest developments are a godsend. If the two parties help each other retain the seats they held, it may help paper over some of the cracks. Officially, nobody is making commitments, but a senior DMK leader, an ardent proponent of the alliance, is optimistic: "After all, these are their seats. Why do you suspect that we may stake claim?"

The DMK leadership feels that this gesture will bridge the differences that have arisen, particularly in the wake of the Jain Commission's interim report which has squarely indicted the DMK in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. Besides, such a gesture will also help silence some of TMC's young turks, like Youth Wing secretary Chella Kumar, who has been gunning for DMK stalwarts for some time now.

The TMC leaders dodge any questions on whether talks are on to settle the Rajya Sabha seats issue. While Moopanar maintains that "there is enough time to think about it", the party's official spokesman Gnana Desikan told india today that a decision will only come once the elections are formally announced. "So far we have not discussed the matter. We will decide when the time comes."

While Natarajan's term in the Upper House was to end in April 1998, Moopanar and Alphonse would have remained in the Rajya sabha till July 2001 and June 2002 respectively. According to sources in the election commission, the by-elections to fill up the vacancies are likely to be held in February next year, when five other seats also fall vacant.

So, while the alliance partners have enough time to arrive at a consensus, its leaders will have to move quickly to decide on the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Pondicherry, for which the commission has already announced the poll schedule. Though the alliance and the opposition are almost evenly matched, the DMK-TMC combine expects an easy win. The problem, however, stems from the fact that while earlier it had almost been decided that the DMK would contest the seat, the TMC has now begun to lobby for Natarajan, who needs to be elected to either house of Parliament within six months to retain her place in the council of ministers.

The resignation of the three TMC leaders from the Rajya Sabha was a rather belated move. Moopanar, after having severed links with the Congress, has often gone on record that he wanted to quit the seat that he won while he was in the party. But in not doing so, he underlined the fact that the Congress had never demanded his resignation. He also emphasised that the legislators who elected him are still behind him. Moopanar has been soundly advised that such political quibbling will not mitigate the points of law raised by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam in his petition to the Rajya Sabha chairman, demanding the disqualification of the three TMC leaders on the grounds of defection.

The point made by Moopanar that the Congress has not asked for his resignation can cut both ways. His detractors interpret it as Moopanar's continuing link with his old party to which, they feel, he may return at an appropriate time. And that is the constant fear in the DMK too. 

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