Weakened DMK will be less troublesome for Congress

The corollary, according to observers, is that the hard-bargaining outfit will now be a defensive force in UPA and will be wary of issuing threats of quitting.

By TNN | Updated: May 14, 2011, 12.59 PM IST

Weakened DMK will be less troublesome for Congress

NEW DELHI: DMK's decimation will reset its equations with Congress which were virtually one-sided in favour of the Dravidian outfit till now. Staring at a five-year spell in opposition against a maverick Jayalalithaa, DMK is likely to be more possessive about the power perch at the Centre for political shelter. The corollary, according to observers, is that the hard-bargaining outfit will now be a defensive force in UPA and will be wary of issuing threats of quitting.

It is not bad news for Congress which has been loath to diktats from Chennai but helpless because of coalition compulsions. While DMK's 18 MPs will still be crucial for the Manmohan Singh regime, the party will be less prone to brinkmanship, realizing that it requires power at the Centre as much as Congress does.

The 2G spectrum trial involving family members of Karunanidhi and affiliated sympathizers makes DMK particularly vulnerable to the Centre. That a JPC will now probe the issue is another dimension which will keep the party engaged with Congress.

Even senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Ghulam Nabi Azad ruled out any rethink on alliance with DMK, in what appeared a clear sign that the ruling party preferred stability in UPA.

Congress will be wary of activism over allies since it will now have to contend with the mercurial Mamata Banerjee who has put her imprimatur on UPA's West Bengal victory. Trinamool Congress's 19 MPs are equally crucial for the central government and risking the two allies at the same time would be suicidal.

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