DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi announced on Tuesday that his party would take part in the Bharat Bandh called by Opposition parties against the Centre’s decision to allow FDI in the retail sector and the recent diesel price hike. The announcement came just a short while before Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee pulled out of the UPA, making the DMK the Congress’s largest partner in the alliance.
Even as the octogenarian leader remained unavailable for comment after his statement was released to the media, DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan refused explain his party’s stand. He maintained a line that indicated his party would try to gain more elbow room with the Congress. When asked about Mamata’s withdrawal from the UPA and whether the DMK could follow suit, Elangovan said, “Our leader is seriously thinking about all these things. He will come out with a statement tomorrow. We will decide on it tomorrow.”
Reflecting the aggressive posturing the DMK adopted on Tuesday evening, Elangovan added, “We are with the people. Congress is running the government. They may have some compulsions. We have our own views and policies.”
Elangovan’s comments came shortly after a harshly worded statement announced that the DMK would take part in the Bharat Bandh. Karunanidhi had criticised the Centre for its decisions over retail FDI and diesel prices. “At a time when the people of Tamil Nadu are suffering from hikes in the prices of bus tickets, milk and electricity apart from general price rise, the Centre has decided to hike the prices of diesel and LPG, apart from allowing FDI in the retail sector. This is adding to the burden of the already suffering people,” said Karunanidhi. He appealed to partymen to ensure the success of the Bharath Bandh.
His announcement also came just ahead of a statement by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav that he would support the UPA from outside.
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