Karunanidhi snuffs out Cong hopes

CHENNAI; When Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi described his two-day visit to New Delhi as “fruitful” on Tuesday, it meant more than just the hike in the state’s annual plan from Rs 9,100 crore to Rs 12,000 crore. By another masterstroke, the veteran had just snuffed out Congress’ hopes of sharing power in Tamil Nadu.

The Congress was hopeful of a coalition government when it won 35 seats and the DMK got only 96 seats - 22 short of simple majority in the 234-member Assembly - in the recent elections. The Congress legislature party (CLP) on May 19 passed a resolution for sharing of power.

“When the DMK can share power with us in Delhi, why are we denied a share in Chennai,” has been the Congress leaders’ refrain. Even as Congressmen were looking up to AICC president Sonia Gandhi to make a gesture, Karunanidhi put the lid on the matter, saying “Neither Sonia Gandhi nor I took up the subject during our discussion.” That could be true, but what made Sonia not broach the topic were Karunanidhi’s systematic manoeuvres before the Delhi rendezvous.

After making sure that Sonia - who did not want to rock the alliance in Tamil Nadu that won all the 39 seats in the 2001 Lok Sabha polls - will not bring up the topic, Karunanidhi called on her on Monday. When Sonia is silent on the topic, the state leaders cannot afford to open their mouth now.