Congress to go alone in Tamil Nadu?

With the Congress still in the process of finalising its alliances, the party unit in Tamil Nadu is getting increasingly restless. While the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has not only started campaigning, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday announced its candidates for 40 seats in the state.

The party is yet to take a call on aligning with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Finance Minister P Chidambaram going so far as to say, “Even if there is no alliance, we will field candidates in all constituencies and seek votes, telling people about the party’s achievements.”

Union Shipping Minister and Congress leader from Tamil Nadu G K Vasan, who met the Prime Minister in the morning on Monday, later told reporters the party cadre was getting disillusioned with delay in decision making and urged the high command to take a call fast.

Congres' official stand, as clarified by its spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed when questioned about its alliance with the DMK, was: "There is no possibility of any alliance as of now." A final call is yet to be taken.

Meanwhile, an internal split seems imminent in the DMK, with the elder son of DMK patriarch and Madurai strongman, Alagiri, being totally sidelined and overlooked. There is speculation he might even float his own party after the elections.

What has set tongues wagging is also the fact that the DMK has fielded a candidate from Sivaganga, the constituency of Chidambaram. The finance minister, who is at present in Tamil Nadu, stated the party was ready to go it alone; "Congress can face elections alone or with allies. Parties like Janata Party, United Janata Dal fell into oblivion, but Congress is not like that. Even if there is no alliance, we will field candidates in all constituencies and seek votes telling people about the party's achievements."

Attempts by the Congress to reach out to the DMK have reportedly been thwarted by DMK heir Stalin. In the 2009 elections, Congress had partnered with the DMK and had contested 16 seats and won nine of them, while the combine itself won 28 seats.

Sources said Vasan also conveyed the state unit's grievances with the party leadership. Later speaking to reporters, Vasan said, "The AICC has not taken any decision on Tamil Nadu as regards the general elections. Hence the party's poll work and strategies (that should be adopted) are getting delayed."

"A good decision must be taken quickly in the interest of the party," he added.

Political affiliations in Tamil Nadu are moving rapidly, with the Vijayakanth-led Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) moving towards the BJP. The Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK will go it alone, after having dumped the CPI and the CPM as allies recently.