DMK walks out, UPA dependent on BSP, SP

DMK chief M Karunanidhi threw the UPA govt into disarray yesterday by pulling support for the ruling coalition over its 'unwillingness' to take on Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes against Tamils. Shekhar Iyer and KV Lakshmana report. Beginning of the end for UPA? | What Karunanidhi wants | The new arithmetic

DMK chief M Karunanidhi threw the UPA government into disarray on Tuesday by pulling support for the ruling coalition over its “unwillingness” to take on Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes against minority Tamils.

The decision by the 88-year-old DMK supremo, whose party has 18 members in the Lok Sabha, leaves the UPA dependent on two mercurial allies for its survival: the Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Initial indications were that the two northern parties, who support the government from the outside, would continue to play ball, largely for their own compulsions.

But the UPA faces the prospect of a rocky year until elections in 2014, with key economic reforms likely to be relegated to the back burner. Most vulnerable are contentious bills to open up insurance and pensions sectors, tax reforms and the privatisation programme.

If the BSP and SP stay put — possibly for their pound of flesh — the Congress-led grouping will have the support of 53 lawmakers from the outside. Added to a strength of 229, it would give the combine 282 seats, keeping its head above the 270 majority mark.

Working to the UPA’s advantage is the lack of preparedness of most parties to face the electorate now, a reluctance that saved it when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Bannerjee withdrew the Trinamool Congress’ support to the government in September.

“Since it would be a big harm to the Tamil race if DMK continues in the Centre when a situation has been created to the detriment of Eelam Tamils, DMK has decided to immediately pull out of the Union ministry and UPA,” Karunanidhi, a one-time movie scriptwriter, said in Chennai. He also ruled out outside support.

Supporters of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) light firecrackers to celebrate after their party pulled out of the ruling coalition, outside the party's headquarters in Chennai. Reuter)