DMK vs PMK Imbroglio
Trust Paataali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr S Ramadoss to spice up the otherwise routine exercise of Rajya Sabha elections and he will.
More often than not, elections to the upper house of the Indian Parliament cease to be interesting after the respective parties announce their nominees. The terms of as many as six Rajya Sabha members from Tamilnadu expires by March 2008 and the elections are all set to be held on 26th March to fill up the vacant seats. To become a member of Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, each candidate has to secure votes from 36 MLAs. According to the current dynamics of the house, the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) comprising of DMK, Congress, PMK, CPI, CPI(M), Viduthalai Siruthaigal could comfortably send four MPs to the Rajya Sabha. However, they will fall short of 3 votes to send the fifth member from their alliance. On the other hand, the opposition parties comprising of AIADMK and MDMK can send one member to the Rajya Sabha in view of their current strength, but will be falling short of 2 votes to send another member to New Delhi. It is in these context, the vote of one-member party like Vijayakanth - who does not belong to either of the above camps, assumes significance.
Last time around, in June 2007 when a similar situation arose Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam chief Muthuvelar Karunanidhi was unusually generous. In order to avoid any horse trading, he said, DMK led DPA will let the AIADMK led opposition to take away two seats while the ruling coalition will take away four, thus ensuring that there was no contest. The apparent reason for his generosity was that his daughter Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was being nominated to Rajya Sabha on behalf of DMK and he wanted to ensure that her election was smooth and peaceful. Moreover, if DMK was to contest one more seat, they would have had to seek support from DMDK chief Vijayakanth, who in the recent times has emerged as one of the bitter-most critics of Karunanidhi.
This time around, although the situation is similar, the dynamics are slightly different. PMK, which has got 18 MLAs in the current Assembly has been requesting one Rajya Sabha seat for the party. Gradually, the request turned into demand and at one point, PMK strongman Dr S Ramadoss even gave a deadline of March 15 (the last day for nominations) to DMK. However, ending even the remote chance for rapproachement over the Rajya Sabha seat distribution row within the ruling party-led DPA, DMK president Karunanidhi politely said a firm ‘NO’ to the PMK and went ahead in announcing the names of the party nominees. Among the four Rajya Sabha seats and a possible fifth that are up for grabs for the coalition, DMK has chosen to take two and allocated two to Congress and one to CPI(M).
PMK is not part of the government at the State level. However, they are part of the Central Government in New Delhi with Dr. Anbumani Ramadosss (son of PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss) enjoying his stint as Union Health Minister. Although PMK is blowing hot air on DMK over various issues in the last two years, the party's relationship with Congress has been very cordial. Also, PMK does not seem to have any issues with the Communists as well. Ironically, if PMK choses to abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, it will be the Communists' nominee T K Rangarajan who will miss the bus to Rajya Sabha.
At the time of writing (12th March 2008), there are three possible courses that PMK might take.
1) Support the CPI(M) nominee for the sake of the 'alliance dharma' and also for the need to maintain cordial equation with the Congress and the Left parties, keeping in mind future political permutation and combinations.
2) Walk out of DMK led alliance and cross over to AIADMK camp. PMK will support MDMK's nominee (ally of AIADMK). This will mean that the party will lose its Ministers at the Centre.
3) Remain in DPA and abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections on March 26th. This will mean that PMK will not lose its Ministers at the Centre, but the party could very well enter the bad books of Communists (not that it matters that much). Congress might not be too bothered.
It looks like PMK didn't do its homework properly before firing salvos on DMK. Having antagonised the ruling DMK over getting a seat for the Rajya Sabha election in the State, it has also forced upon itself a certain iciness in its relationship with the other constituents of the DPA. Ramadoss, in response to a query on whether he would move out (of the alliance), said that the question has not risen till now. However by saying, 'We have time till 15 March,' he has opened up the field for speculations. With general elections for the Lok Sabha looming large, every party will want to keep its options open. The only reason that is holding the PMK in the DMK led DPA is the few ministries held by PMK men at the Centre. By jumping out of the alliance, the party will not want to throw away the benefits of power, even if it is for less than a year. Perhaps the time has come for Dr Ramadoss to call Jayalalithaa Jayaram as 'Anbu Sagodhari' (beloved sister). Having observed Dr Ramadoss for the last decade or so, it is not a question of 'whether'. It is just a matter of 'when'.
More often than not, elections to the upper house of the Indian Parliament cease to be interesting after the respective parties announce their nominees. The terms of as many as six Rajya Sabha members from Tamilnadu expires by March 2008 and the elections are all set to be held on 26th March to fill up the vacant seats. To become a member of Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu, each candidate has to secure votes from 36 MLAs. According to the current dynamics of the house, the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) comprising of DMK, Congress, PMK, CPI, CPI(M), Viduthalai Siruthaigal could comfortably send four MPs to the Rajya Sabha. However, they will fall short of 3 votes to send the fifth member from their alliance. On the other hand, the opposition parties comprising of AIADMK and MDMK can send one member to the Rajya Sabha in view of their current strength, but will be falling short of 2 votes to send another member to New Delhi. It is in these context, the vote of one-member party like Vijayakanth - who does not belong to either of the above camps, assumes significance.
Last time around, in June 2007 when a similar situation arose Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam chief Muthuvelar Karunanidhi was unusually generous. In order to avoid any horse trading, he said, DMK led DPA will let the AIADMK led opposition to take away two seats while the ruling coalition will take away four, thus ensuring that there was no contest. The apparent reason for his generosity was that his daughter Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was being nominated to Rajya Sabha on behalf of DMK and he wanted to ensure that her election was smooth and peaceful. Moreover, if DMK was to contest one more seat, they would have had to seek support from DMDK chief Vijayakanth, who in the recent times has emerged as one of the bitter-most critics of Karunanidhi.
This time around, although the situation is similar, the dynamics are slightly different. PMK, which has got 18 MLAs in the current Assembly has been requesting one Rajya Sabha seat for the party. Gradually, the request turned into demand and at one point, PMK strongman Dr S Ramadoss even gave a deadline of March 15 (the last day for nominations) to DMK. However, ending even the remote chance for rapproachement over the Rajya Sabha seat distribution row within the ruling party-led DPA, DMK president Karunanidhi politely said a firm ‘NO’ to the PMK and went ahead in announcing the names of the party nominees. Among the four Rajya Sabha seats and a possible fifth that are up for grabs for the coalition, DMK has chosen to take two and allocated two to Congress and one to CPI(M).
PMK is not part of the government at the State level. However, they are part of the Central Government in New Delhi with Dr. Anbumani Ramadosss (son of PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss) enjoying his stint as Union Health Minister. Although PMK is blowing hot air on DMK over various issues in the last two years, the party's relationship with Congress has been very cordial. Also, PMK does not seem to have any issues with the Communists as well. Ironically, if PMK choses to abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, it will be the Communists' nominee T K Rangarajan who will miss the bus to Rajya Sabha.
At the time of writing (12th March 2008), there are three possible courses that PMK might take.
1) Support the CPI(M) nominee for the sake of the 'alliance dharma' and also for the need to maintain cordial equation with the Congress and the Left parties, keeping in mind future political permutation and combinations.
2) Walk out of DMK led alliance and cross over to AIADMK camp. PMK will support MDMK's nominee (ally of AIADMK). This will mean that the party will lose its Ministers at the Centre.
3) Remain in DPA and abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections on March 26th. This will mean that PMK will not lose its Ministers at the Centre, but the party could very well enter the bad books of Communists (not that it matters that much). Congress might not be too bothered.
It looks like PMK didn't do its homework properly before firing salvos on DMK. Having antagonised the ruling DMK over getting a seat for the Rajya Sabha election in the State, it has also forced upon itself a certain iciness in its relationship with the other constituents of the DPA. Ramadoss, in response to a query on whether he would move out (of the alliance), said that the question has not risen till now. However by saying, 'We have time till 15 March,' he has opened up the field for speculations. With general elections for the Lok Sabha looming large, every party will want to keep its options open. The only reason that is holding the PMK in the DMK led DPA is the few ministries held by PMK men at the Centre. By jumping out of the alliance, the party will not want to throw away the benefits of power, even if it is for less than a year. Perhaps the time has come for Dr Ramadoss to call Jayalalithaa Jayaram as 'Anbu Sagodhari' (beloved sister). Having observed Dr Ramadoss for the last decade or so, it is not a question of 'whether'. It is just a matter of 'when'.
posted by Indian Voter at 9:29:00 PM
2 Comments:
Honestly politics is not my cup of tea. But your analysis and writeup is very interesting and educative.
//Perhaps the time has come for Dr Ramadoss to call Jayalalithaa Jayaram as 'Anbu Sagodhari' (beloved sister). Having observed Dr Ramadoss for the last decade or so, it is not a question of 'whether'. It is just a matter of 'when'//
your usual sarcastic touch :))
Great keep it up.
Hi IV,
ha ha - the last 2 lines were a real punch! Sums up all about "Maruthuvar".
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