Sense of betrayal in DMK ranks, blame Congress for Kanimozhi arrest

CHENNAI: As the mood in the DMK camp plunged in the wake of Kanimozhi’s arrest, the first stirrings of emotion among party leaders was that of anger against Congress. As DMK seniors consoled a tearful DMK chief M Karunanidhi, among the loudest voices of protest were against the party’s electoral ally for doing little to prevent Kanimozhi’s arrest. “There is no doubt Congress is to be blamed for everything, even for Kanimozhi’s arrest. What have they done to help us? Nothing,’’ pointed out a former DMK minister.

While emotions ran high at Karunanidhi’s CIT Colony residence, the DMK patriarch took stock of the situation, listening to his colleagues vent their anger against Congress . But he said nothing. Only last week, many seniors in the party had suggested that the ministers be pulled out from the Union Cabinet as a mark of protest against AICC president Sonia Gandhi congratulating AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa on her victory . On Friday evening, when Karunanidhi met reporters outside his residence, he seemed composed. To queries about DMKCongress relations, he quipped in a typical fashion, ‘‘ We have good relations with everybody .’’ There was no hint of anger or disappointment on his voice.

Congress activists in Tamil Nadu admit there was a sense of shock and betrayal among DMK cadres in the run-up to the April 13 assembly elections over the arrest of former telecom minister A Raja in connection with the 2G spectrum scam. It’s is now boiling over into a deep resentment and anger against Congress with the arrest of Kanimozhi on Friday. Stung by the pointed observations of Congress leaders, Team Karunanidhi has been aloof towards the ally.