Just a month ahead of Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, the DMK has decided to withdraw its ministers from the Union Cabinet as Congress and the DMK could not agree on seat sharing. The DMK will now only extend issue-based support to the UPA government.
Following are the reasons over which the DMK is upset
* Raja sacked over 2G scam
* CBI raids at Karunanidhi's wife's TV channel
* Threat of Kanimozhi being questioned on 2G scam
* Congress' tough stand on seat-sharing in Tamil Nadu polls
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Monday, March 7, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
DMK-Cong alliance to collapse?
The seven-year-old DMK-Congress alliance was on the brink of collapse on the issue of seat-sharing for the Assembly polls tonight with party chief M Karunanidhi saying the party's high level committee would take a 'proper decision' on the issue tomorrow.
In a statement here, he asked whether it was proper for Congress, which had agreed for 60 seats earlier, to now demand 63 seats over telephone.
The Congress stand that it would decide on the constituencies to be contested was highly improper, he said in a statement.
The DMK and the Congress have held three rounds of discussions on seat-sharing for the April 13 Assembly elections, but no headway could be made due to differences between the two parties.
Speculation was rife that the deal would be signed today.
In a statement here, he asked whether it was proper for Congress, which had agreed for 60 seats earlier, to now demand 63 seats over telephone.
The Congress stand that it would decide on the constituencies to be contested was highly improper, he said in a statement.
The DMK and the Congress have held three rounds of discussions on seat-sharing for the April 13 Assembly elections, but no headway could be made due to differences between the two parties.
Speculation was rife that the deal would be signed today.
DMK upset with Congress' growing demand
The Congress-DMK seat sharing talks plunged into a crisis on Friday night after the DMK expressed displeasure over the constantly rising demands of the Congress.
“After having agreed to 60 seats, is it proper on the part of the Congress to demand 63 seats now and, on top of that, say that it would contest the elections in the constituencies of its choice?,” DMK president M. Karunanidhi asked in a statement issued past midnight.
Upset with the Congress stand, he said an appropriate decision would be taken on Saturday by the DMK's high-level action committee.
Mr. Karunanidhi said that going by the presence of several parties, the DMK was initially ready to offer 51 seats. As the talks progressed, the demand went up to 53, 55, 58 and, ultimately, it was finalised at 60 in the presence of AICC leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. “He said he would apprise the high command and confirm the final number. However, not only did he not turn up for signing the deal, but also demanded 63 seats tonight over telephone, and that the Congress itself would choose all its constituencies,” he said.
“After having agreed to 60 seats, is it proper on the part of the Congress to demand 63 seats now and, on top of that, say that it would contest the elections in the constituencies of its choice?,” DMK president M. Karunanidhi asked in a statement issued past midnight.
Upset with the Congress stand, he said an appropriate decision would be taken on Saturday by the DMK's high-level action committee.
Mr. Karunanidhi said that going by the presence of several parties, the DMK was initially ready to offer 51 seats. As the talks progressed, the demand went up to 53, 55, 58 and, ultimately, it was finalised at 60 in the presence of AICC leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. “He said he would apprise the high command and confirm the final number. However, not only did he not turn up for signing the deal, but also demanded 63 seats tonight over telephone, and that the Congress itself would choose all its constituencies,” he said.
DMDK gets 41 seats in poll pact with AIADMK
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakant will contest 41 seats as part of the AIADMK alliance in the Assembly elections on April 13.
The number of seats allotted to the DMDK was finalised after a meeting between AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa and DMDK president Vijayakant at the former's Poes Garden residence on Friday night.
While Mr. Vijayakant, who was accompanied his party presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran and youth wing secretary L. K. Sudheesh, left without speaking to the media, a brief statement from Ms. Jayalalithaa's residence disclosed the seat-sharing agreement.
“The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam entered into a seat-sharing agreement with the DMDK and the party has been allotted 41 seats,” the statement said.
Mr. Vijayakant, who came to Ms. Jayalalithaa's residence around 9.25 p.m, had a nearly half-an-hour meeting with her.
The Left parties and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), the other major parties in the AIADMK front, are likely to be invited for seat-sharing talks in the next few days.
Left leaders said they were told that a pact would be sealed with them on Friday, but it did not materialise as negotiations with DMDK could be completed only in the evening.
This is the first time that the DMDK, set up in 2005 by the veteran Tamil actor, is entering into an electoral alliance. Contesting alone, the party had polled a little over eight per cent in the 2006 Assembly elections and over 10 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
The number of seats allotted to the DMDK was finalised after a meeting between AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa and DMDK president Vijayakant at the former's Poes Garden residence on Friday night.
While Mr. Vijayakant, who was accompanied his party presidium chairman Panruti S. Ramachandran and youth wing secretary L. K. Sudheesh, left without speaking to the media, a brief statement from Ms. Jayalalithaa's residence disclosed the seat-sharing agreement.
“The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam entered into a seat-sharing agreement with the DMDK and the party has been allotted 41 seats,” the statement said.
Mr. Vijayakant, who came to Ms. Jayalalithaa's residence around 9.25 p.m, had a nearly half-an-hour meeting with her.
The Left parties and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), the other major parties in the AIADMK front, are likely to be invited for seat-sharing talks in the next few days.
Left leaders said they were told that a pact would be sealed with them on Friday, but it did not materialise as negotiations with DMDK could be completed only in the evening.
This is the first time that the DMDK, set up in 2005 by the veteran Tamil actor, is entering into an electoral alliance. Contesting alone, the party had polled a little over eight per cent in the 2006 Assembly elections and over 10 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Congress-DMK talks remain inconclusive
A high-level round of intense negotiations failed to break the deadlock in seat-sharing talks between the Congress and DMK on Wednesday night. While the Congress, which began with the demand for 65 seats, is willing to settle for 62, the DMK does not want to go beyond 55 seats, sources said.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC leader in charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, flew down to hold parleys with DMK president M Karunanidhi at the DMK headquarters, but the session was inconclusive. “The talks will continue tomorrow,” Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters late in the night.
Mr. Azad, who was expected to seal a pact as the emissary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, left after more than two hours of discussions with the DMK president.
Earlier rounds of negotiations between a five-member Congress panel and the DMK's election committee failed to make much progress on seat-sharing.
The parties are also discussing the question of sharing power.
After Mr. Azad left, the Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) was allotted seven seats in the DMK-led alliance.
Source: Hindu
Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC leader in charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, flew down to hold parleys with DMK president M Karunanidhi at the DMK headquarters, but the session was inconclusive. “The talks will continue tomorrow,” Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters late in the night.
Mr. Azad, who was expected to seal a pact as the emissary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, left after more than two hours of discussions with the DMK president.
Earlier rounds of negotiations between a five-member Congress panel and the DMK's election committee failed to make much progress on seat-sharing.
The parties are also discussing the question of sharing power.
After Mr. Azad left, the Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) was allotted seven seats in the DMK-led alliance.
Source: Hindu
Monday, February 28, 2011
TN parties in the process of striking alliances
Battle lines are being drawn for the Assembly polls due in April-May in Tamil Nadu with major political parties firming up or in the process of striking alliances.
While the ruling DMK had already had two rounds of talks with its key ally and UPA coalition leader Congress, it had netted the PMK, Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi into its basket.
The Opposition AIADMK had already launched talks with DMDK, floated by actor Vijayakant, MDMK and the Left parties besides allotting seats to minor parties like Puthiya Tamizhagam, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Republican Party of India and All India Forward Block.
The AIADMK's efforts for a rainbow alliance had succeeded with the DMDK joining it.
The BJP is waging a lone battle for the second time as neither of the two major Dravidian parties had entertained it.
The alliances had undergone a sea change from the one formed during the 2006 Assembly polls.While the DMK-Congress alliance and the AIADMK-MDMK tie-up remained intact, the Left parties have changed sides from DMK camp to AIADMK side since the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
The PMK, known for shifting its loyalties, had done it once again by shifting from AIADMK camp to that of the DMK-Congress combine.
Though there were reports about hitches in the seat-sharing talks between Congress and DMK, political observers feel that Congress high command would finally come to terms with the Dravidian party.
The Congress, which had been insisting on power-sharing, more number of seats, a common minimum programme among other things had reportedly been hurt by DMK's "unilateral" allocation of 31 seats to the PMK without taking it into confidence.
The DMDK's decision to go along with the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK had sealed the prospects of Congress-DMDK led Third Front in the state.
On the AIADMK front, the allocation of seats to key allies like MDMK and Left parties depended on the number of seats to be given to DMDK.
Speculation is rife that the fledgling party will be getting around 45 seats.
The Congress, which had been demanding over 80 seats, had been reportedly offered by the DMK 53 seats. But with talks remaining inconclusive, it might get some more seats.
The VCK had demanded 15 seats but was likely to settle for 11 seats reportedly offered by the DMK.
Minor players like parties floated by actor Sarath Kumar and some caste-based parties like Kongu Velalar Munntera Kazhagam, which had spoiled the chances of DMK combine in eastern Tamil Nadu during Lok Sabha polls, were yet to finalise their poll strategy.
Source: sify
While the ruling DMK had already had two rounds of talks with its key ally and UPA coalition leader Congress, it had netted the PMK, Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi into its basket.
The Opposition AIADMK had already launched talks with DMDK, floated by actor Vijayakant, MDMK and the Left parties besides allotting seats to minor parties like Puthiya Tamizhagam, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Republican Party of India and All India Forward Block.
The AIADMK's efforts for a rainbow alliance had succeeded with the DMDK joining it.
The BJP is waging a lone battle for the second time as neither of the two major Dravidian parties had entertained it.
The alliances had undergone a sea change from the one formed during the 2006 Assembly polls.While the DMK-Congress alliance and the AIADMK-MDMK tie-up remained intact, the Left parties have changed sides from DMK camp to AIADMK side since the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
The PMK, known for shifting its loyalties, had done it once again by shifting from AIADMK camp to that of the DMK-Congress combine.
Though there were reports about hitches in the seat-sharing talks between Congress and DMK, political observers feel that Congress high command would finally come to terms with the Dravidian party.
The Congress, which had been insisting on power-sharing, more number of seats, a common minimum programme among other things had reportedly been hurt by DMK's "unilateral" allocation of 31 seats to the PMK without taking it into confidence.
The DMDK's decision to go along with the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK had sealed the prospects of Congress-DMDK led Third Front in the state.
On the AIADMK front, the allocation of seats to key allies like MDMK and Left parties depended on the number of seats to be given to DMDK.
Speculation is rife that the fledgling party will be getting around 45 seats.
The Congress, which had been demanding over 80 seats, had been reportedly offered by the DMK 53 seats. But with talks remaining inconclusive, it might get some more seats.
The VCK had demanded 15 seats but was likely to settle for 11 seats reportedly offered by the DMK.
Minor players like parties floated by actor Sarath Kumar and some caste-based parties like Kongu Velalar Munntera Kazhagam, which had spoiled the chances of DMK combine in eastern Tamil Nadu during Lok Sabha polls, were yet to finalise their poll strategy.
Source: sify
Rajathi, Kanimozhi should reveal truth about property deals: Jayalalithaa
AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi's third wife Rajathi and daughter Kanimozhi to come out with the 'real truth' about a couple of land deals in Chennai, including one referred to by corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.
In a statement issued here, Jayalalithaa said there is a limit to the coincidences as to the people figuring in the two property deals, concerning a prime property on the Anna Salai out of which Tata group's Voltas functioned, and the Windsor Estate in Kotagiri.
Involved in the deals were businessman Shanmughanathan, who bought both properties, Saravanan, who was the power of attorney-holder of the property at Anna Salai and S. Srinivasam Rathnam, whose name appeared as a witness in the sale of the Windsor Estate and has the same address in Chennai as Rajathi's auditor.
Referring to the media reports of a tapped conversation between Radia and Rajathi with Rathnam serving as interpreter, Jayalalithaa said as per the talks, Rajathi was unhappy that a property transaction promised by the Tata group had not gone through.
'The conversation specifically mentions Voltas (a Tata group company) as the occupants of the said property in Chennai,' she said, adding that according to documents on the Anna Salai deal, Saravanan sold the property, valued around Rs.350 crore, to Shanmughanathan, the director of Shangkalpam Industries Pvt Ltd, for only Rs.25 crore.
Reports had also linked Saravanan and Shanmughanathan to Rajathi, who had strongly denied it.
In a statement, Rajathi had sought to clarify that Saravanan was a former employee of her furniture showroom, Royal Enterprises but no longer employed by her, and Shanmughanathan is a businessman from Malaysia with whom she had no connection whatsoever.
Citing media reports, Jayalalithaa said the 525.98 acre Windsor Estate was purchased by Shanmughanathan on Dec 16,2006 for a mere Rs.2.47 crore.
The transaction document was witnessed by S. Srinivasa Rathnam of Chennai, she said, adding Rajathi's auditor Rathnam is actually the same S.Srinivasa Rathman who operates out of the same address in Chennai.
'Shanmughanathan's Voltas land purchase involved Rajathi's former employee Saravanan. Shanmughanathan's Windsor Estate purchase involved Rajathi's present auditor Rathnam. Windsor estate is referred to by locals as Kanimozhi Estate.'
'At least now, will Rajathi and Kanimozhi come out with the real truth?' Jayalalithaa said.
Source: sify
VCK will stay with DMK despite pressure to switch
Confirming that he was getting repeated feelers from the AIADMK camp, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi(VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Sunday said that despite the “heavy pressure”, he would stick with the DMK. “I'm getting strong feelers almost on a daily basis, but I am not going to leave the DMK alliance,” he told The Hindu following reports that the AIADMK had approached him for an alliance.
The VCK contested the 2006 Assembly election as part of the AIADMK alliance, but joined the DMK combine immediately after the elections. The party fielded nine candidates, but could win only two seats.
Distancing himself from reports that his party was toying with the idea of going with the AIADMK, the Dalit leader said there was no need for him to float such reports to increase the bargaining power of his party.
“But at the same time, we expect to be rewarded for our loyalty. We hope the DMK will make us feel comfortable in the alliance. We are not making any unreasonable demands,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
The party expects that the DMK leadership will take into consideration its strength and offer a reasonable number of seats befitting its stature, he said.
The VCK had never talked about “options” because it had always wanted to go with the DMK. Asked whether the DMK wanted to complete seat-sharing with the Congress before coming to the VCK, he said, “I have no idea.”
VCK MLA Ravikumar said his party's demands for an honourable allocation of seats was “fully justifiable.”
“Our strength is time-tested, and the VCK and PMK together can make a formidable combination in the northern belt of the State. The rival camp, whatever be the strength, cannot match us,” he said.
Source: Hindu
The VCK contested the 2006 Assembly election as part of the AIADMK alliance, but joined the DMK combine immediately after the elections. The party fielded nine candidates, but could win only two seats.
Distancing himself from reports that his party was toying with the idea of going with the AIADMK, the Dalit leader said there was no need for him to float such reports to increase the bargaining power of his party.
“But at the same time, we expect to be rewarded for our loyalty. We hope the DMK will make us feel comfortable in the alliance. We are not making any unreasonable demands,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
The party expects that the DMK leadership will take into consideration its strength and offer a reasonable number of seats befitting its stature, he said.
The VCK had never talked about “options” because it had always wanted to go with the DMK. Asked whether the DMK wanted to complete seat-sharing with the Congress before coming to the VCK, he said, “I have no idea.”
VCK MLA Ravikumar said his party's demands for an honourable allocation of seats was “fully justifiable.”
“Our strength is time-tested, and the VCK and PMK together can make a formidable combination in the northern belt of the State. The rival camp, whatever be the strength, cannot match us,” he said.
Source: Hindu
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