Tamil Nadu is one of the examples of regional chauvinism in the category of such States in India. Regional chauvinism came into being there with the birth of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1949 till then Indian National Congress was in the saddle for decades. Naturally a question arises. Why then a regional party mushroomed in the State of Tamil Nadu. We need not dig-deeper into the discovery of its reasons. When a State is constantly neglected, particularly when its citizens feel like an ignored lot, particularly when their immediate problems are not being attended to properly, its infrastructure too remains unattended, poverty, unemployment, malnourishment etc turning gigantic problems, the party ruling the State loses popular support. The people turn elsewhere for help and that help comes in handy from a party be it a regional entity or not, they flock under it and catapult that party into power. Such a thing happened in Tamil Nadu, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was formed under an able leader C.N.Annadurai.
Under the leadership of such a great man the party came into power easily and the govt formed under that party worked for the welfare and well-being of the poor.
Later after his tragic demise, DMK got divided into many Kazhagams like AIADMK, PMK, DMDK variety of them. When DMK failed to come to the expectations of people AIADMK under M G Ramachandran aka MGR came to power of course forming alliance with parties of lesser influence among regional parties. Even today Tamil Nadu is being ruled alternately with Congress holding only a marginal influence.
Of late the Grand Old Party cherishes the dream of winning more seats and by winning more seats it aspires for a partnership rule either with DMK and AIADMK.
Now that preparatory works are in full swing in Tamil Nadu as this is election times seat-sharing talks are too are in full swing. Each party’s demands are being discussed, adjustments also made, some parties stake claim for more seats, demands are agreed or not agreed upon depending upon the situation.
For instance Congress in its talks with its long term alliance partner of DMK this time it has struck a strident posture demanding 63 seats and in the case of the alliance winning power it demands to be a partner in the govt. DMK on the other hand is not willing to provide 60 seats to Congress, not any more and in the case of winning power Congress demand for a place in the Ministry is not at all possible.
Both are on a collision course as per the latest news streaming in with the DMK deciding to withdraw its six ministers from the Ministry and provide issue-based support to Central govt from outside. DMK’s pressure tactics do not seem to have worked this time since the Congress steadfastly stick to its position.
Samajwadi party of Mulayam Singh with 23 seats have come forward with the claim that UPA govt doesn’t suffer on account of DMK backing out it is certain that he too eyes plum posts in the govt at a critical moment like this.
Whether a last minute patch-up with DMK is possible or not is anybody’s guess, if so who will be making a climb-down, either Congress or DMK?
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