Will VCK snap ties with DMK?

TIRUCHY: After the PMK, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), too is considering severing ties with the DMK front, as the functionaries feel that its credibility on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue had eroded due to ties with DMK and Congress.VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan’s support to the LTTE, while continuing to share ties with the Congress was perceived to be contradictory. Despite Thiruma’s vocal support to the LTTE, the Dalit leader had earned the wrath of Tamil nationalist outfits, as he did not part company with the DMK and Congress, which were seen as enacting a drama in Tamil Nadu, while supporting the military offensive in the island nation.His rhetoric in support of the Eelam cause only raised the suspicions of Tamil nationalists who doubted his integrity on the issue. There were also allegations that he was using the Lankan issue only to create an image and vote bank for himself.A section of Tamil nationalist groups also charged him with raising the Eelam issue, with an objective of countering MDMK leader Vaiko, who was in the AIADMK alliance and preventing the consolidation of pro-Tiger votes in favour of the AIADMK.His attacks on AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa and his meeting with Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, only strengthened the impression that he was only acting as an agent of Karunanidhi to divert and cover up the allegations against his allies.However, Thirumavalavan dismissed the views and opposition of Tamil nationalist groups and defended his alliance with the DMK, saying that Karunanidhi was more credible than Jayalalithaa in the Lankan issue.  But, the election results proved that people did not buy his explanations, as his party lost all the 10 seats it contested in the Assembly elections. The argument that Jayalalithaa was supporting the military offensive was also rejected by the people.Further, the Assembly resolution by the AIADMK government asking the Centre to take steps for declaring Rajapaksa as a war criminal and impose economic sanctions against the island nation showed his arguments in poor light.The VCK leader had no option, except to welcome the resolution. His reaction hailing the resolution was criticised by DMK leader M Karunanidhi, the very next day. But, Thiruma did not try to meet the DMK leader and pacify him, which indicates that the VCK leader is not ready to go along with Karunanidhi now.The exit of PMK from the DMK front is likely to act as a catalyst to the VCK, which is considering breaking its relationship with Karunanidhi. VCK sources here said the party was seriously thinking of cutting its ties with the DMK.However, they said the VCK will not look for an alliance with the AIADMK either.  With AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa’s astute actions on the Lankan issue exposing Karunanidhi’s hollow claims for the title of ‘saviour of Tamils’, the VCK is under pressure to snap ties with Karunanidhi.