What changed was that left parties gave a notice for an adjournment issue and the beleaguered BJP, desperate to detract attention from a president who has become an albatross around its neck, said that it would support any party opposed to the issue. Not to be left behind, Karunanidhi now says, “We will convene a meeting of all our MPs, and discuss retail in the FDI sector, and arrive at a decision.”
Why the suspense? Karunanidhi succumbed to filmi dialogue to explain it: “I’ve written story and dialogues for over 100 films. Only if there is suspense, the movie will run.” While that is true in reel life, Karunanidhi, the realist and opportunist, is believed to be keeping his options open if he has to go with the BJP, even though the current political scenario makes an alliance with the Congress or the BJP a very unattractive proposition, because both parties are wounded and bleeding.
But, with CM Jayalalitha already making it clear that she will not allow FDI, on this emotive issue, Karunanidhi does not have room for manoeuvre lest she goes to town that he’s anti-poor. Also, with the Congress dispatching finance minister P Chidambaram to meet him and co-opt him, apparently his need to play hard to get, was a given. Then again with TMC’s Mamata Banerjee saying she would move a no-confidence motion against the government on the issue, it gives Karunanidhi leverage, not to mention 15 minutes of fame, to keep the UPA guessing.
The Good Son
Union minister M.K. Azhagiri might see red over this, but it does seem that Karunanidhi has moved one more step closer to anoint his “good” son Stalin as his successor. At a function last Sunday to felicitate Stalin, on his return to Chennai after submitting a memorandum to the United Nations and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) seeking a referendum on the future of Sri Lankan Tamils, Karunanidhi gave him a certificate, “He is living up to my expectations totally.” Karunanidhi, quoted two couplets from the Tirukural which refer to the roles expected of a father and son and said while he was instrumental in positioning Stalin in a pivotal role, the latter had in turn held up his father’s good name through his actions.