Raja's arrest won't impact Tamil Nadu alliances, say parties

Chennai Feb 2 (IANS) DMK leader A. Raja's arrest for his role in the 2G spectrum scam may not throw up any changes in the current or prospective electoral alliance formations in Tamil Nadu that is expected to go to polls this May.

'Raja's arrest is an expected one and it may not have any impact on the formation of electoral alliances. The DMK may take some namesake disciplinary action against Raja like suspending him from the party and try to distance itself from him,' Panruti S. Ramachandran, senior leader of DMDK party floated by actor Vijayakant, told IANS.

Asked about his party's alliance with AIADMK, the principal opposition party in the state, he said: 'We have made our position clear - removal of the corrupt DMK government and be part of a suitable formation to achieve that.'

According to Ramachandran, Raja's arrest may not impact PMK being part of the DMK-led front but a PMK leader said on condition of anonymity that the party would analyse the implications of the arrest.

'We have to analyse the arrest and its implications,' the PMK leader said.

On the DMDK-AIADMK ties, a DMDK leader preferring anonymity said: 'Informal discussions are on with AIADMK and a formal announcement may be expected on or after February 7. Our demand is 60 seats and the deputy chief minister's post.'

On the issue of the Congress wanting DMDK to go it alone or be part of the DMK-led alliance, Ramachandran said: 'We have to save politics from Karunanidhi's family.'

Raja and two of his aides were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi Wednesday for their role in the controversial allocation of airwaves for second generation (2G) telecom services.

Raja was forced to resign Nov 14 last year after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) indicted him in the spectrum allocation scam and for causing losses of between Rs.58,000 crore ($12.8 billion) and Rs.1.76 lakh crore ($40 billion) to the exchequer.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary G.Ramakrishnan took a dig of the DMK organising a series of public meetings to clarify the spectrum issue and clear the party's name.

'I wonder how the party is going to react to the arrest,' Ramakrishnan told IANS.

On the impact of Raja's arrest on electoral prospects of the DMK-Congress combine in the ensuing assembly polls, Ramakrishnan said: 'Even otherwise, people are fed up with the anti-people policies of the state and central governments.'

Commenting on Raja's arrest, political commentator Cho Ramaswamy said Karunanidhi will now not be able to fight back the Congress. He said the DMK will have to depend on the Congress to protect his family members and also Raja.

However, the DMK maintained a studied silence on the issue with its party leaders not available for comment on their senior leader's arrest.

Source:sify.com