With leader Jayalalithaa in hospital, TN’s ruling AIADMK party is rudderless
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha but for the past two weeks, Tamil Nadu’s ruling party has appeared like a rudderless ship.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha but for the past two weeks, Tamil Nadu’s ruling party has appeared like a rudderless ship in Parliament.
Tamil Nadu chief minister and party chief J Jayalalithaa’s prolonged hospitalisation has left 37 AIADMK parliamentarians apparently clueless about what position the party should take on different issues being discussed since the winter session began in New Delhi on November 16.
For some days, they have chosen the safe path of protesting over Karnataka’s refusal to give more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu though other issues such as the Centre’s decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes have rocked Parliament.
The AIADMK stayed out of the Opposition meetings here as “Amma” was confined to the hospital. AIADMK MPs weren’t present in Parliament on Monday and were probably on their way back to Chennai.
Read | Live updates on Jayalalithaa’s health from Chennai
“Every step of the AIADMK’s parliamentary party is directed from Chennai. J Jayalalithaa decides what her MPs should say. She even expelled her MP for misbehaving with a DMK MP in airport. So, when she is unavailable for giving commands, the MPs don’t want to take any risk,” said a senior Opposition leader who interacted with AIADMK MPs over Opposition unity.
After the BJP (282 MPs) and the Congress (44), AIADMK is the third-largest party with 37 MPs in Lok Sabha. In Rajya Sabha, it is the fourth-largest party with 13 MPs.
While the Opposition parties met almost daily to discuss floor strategy, the AIADMK joined their meetings just once.
Read | With CM Jayalalithaa in hospital, her adviser is in Tamil Nadu hot seat
In another case, the AIADMK member had supported lesser punishment for Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann in the panel that probed breach of security.
But the larger role that a party of AIADMK’s strength usually plays is clearly missing.
On many issues earlier, the BJP-led NDA government has secured the support of the Tamil party after negotiating with Jayalalithaa. But now, as she remains out of reach, the Centre also has been unable to reap the benefit of roping in AIADMK to corner the Opposition.
Read | Unhealthy politics over Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa’s condition
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