It’s All in the Arithematic
The arithmetic of alliances, which will ultimately hold the key as to who will win and who will lose has even made DMDK’s Vijaykanth, who once famously said his alliance was with people or God, amenable to a change of heart. He seems to have taken the first baby steps towards being on the same page with the AIADMK after his extension of support to the Left parties agitation where AIADMK and MDMK leaders were also present. The DMDK extended support to the agitation organised by left parties in connection with the strike at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (13,000 workers have been on strike since September 20) and Foxconn (also since September). Since Vijayakanth does not want to reveal all his cards just yet, the explanation being trotted out by DMDK presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran is that the party had extended support to a one-day fast called by CPI on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue even on October 2, 2008. “We have not taken any decisions on an alliance as assembly elections are six months away,” Panruti said. In other words, an exit clause is being prepared so Vijaykanth can bolt which he did at the eleventh hour, according to Jayalalitha, after agreeing to tie up with the AIADMK before the Lok Sabha polls in the summer of 2009. But CPM state secretary G Ramakrishnan may have ratted Vijaykanth out. He said an invitation was extended to Vijayakanth to join the agitation, but he was told by Panruti Ramachandran that his chief could not make it to the stir “as the invitation reached him very late” but that he had given his support. In politics, one has to really perform a balancing act.