The presence of CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury on the dais with DMK supremo M. Karuananidhi at the World Tamil Classical Conference in Coimbatore has sent a clear signal of the growing proximity between the Mar-xists and the DMK, which is part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance.
Mr Karunanidhi, in fact, organised a Tamil Nadu government helicopter to fly Mr Yechury to Coimbatore from Chennai on the conference’s third day after Mr Yechury said he might not be able to attend as all flights from Chennai to Coimbatore had been cancelled. The Tamil Nadu chief minister then asked party colleague T.R. Baalu to organise a state helicopter to fly in Mr Yechury. At the conference, not only did Mr Yechury get to sit next to Mr Karunanidhi, but the DMK supremo also heaped lavish praise on the CPI(M) leader in the DMK mouthpiece Murasoli.
By inviting Mr Yechury and CPI national secretary D. Raja to the conference, the DMK has clearly indicated that it is keeping all its alliance options open. Assembly elections are due to be held in Tamil Nadu in 2011, but it is possible these could be advanced to later this year. Analysts point out that Mr Karunanidhi’s strategy could be to get the Left parties, which have been relentlessly targeting DMK leader A. Raja, Union communications minister, over the 2G spectrum controversy, to tone down their attacks. Sources said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was considering the option of dropping Mr Raja following the Left-led Opposition attacks.
It may be recalled that the Left was not part of the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu in 2009 elections. The Left, facing the prospect of losing power in both West Bengal and Kerala in the coming Assembly elections, is also desperately looking for electoral allies.