The divide could cost Cong-led UPA in the event of a trust vote
Former union minister T R Baalu and MoS finance S SPalanimanickam, both DMK leaders, talking openly of taking on each other duringthe winter session.
Infighting in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) might gnawat the central ruling alliance’s strength in the winter session of parliamentslated to begin in a month. Leader of the DMK parliamentary party, TR Baalu,and union minister of state for finance and DMK leader SS Palanimanickam arereportedly readying their camps to spar in the winter session over a newrailway line to Thanjavur.
DMK MPs are reported to have decided to complain to partychief K Karunanidhi against Baalu’s alleged dictatorial behavior as thechairman of the railway standing committee, announcing many projects withoutthe approvals from the union railway ministry. The spat with Palanimanickam hasto do with a similar announcement of a new railway line in the juniorminister’s parliamentary constituency, Thanjavur, which also happens to beBaalu’s son, T R Raaja’s constituency in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
Palanimanickam is learnt to have lodged a formal complaintwith the DMK boss.
Party insiders have revealed that each is now openly talkingof his strategy to take on the other. However, with a larger backing forPalanimanickam, party sources say a revolt against Baalu is imminent. Thiscould complicate floor management for the government.
The divide could be taxing for the Congress-led governmentin the event of a trust vote. There are likely to be abstentions and boycott byone camp or the other. DMK is a crucial ally for the government at the momentas it has been reduced to a minority in the Lok Sabha.
