PM meeting with PMK puts Cong in a spot

Though it has vowed to back the UPA in the trust vote, the PMK, led by Ramadoss today brought its bitter tussle with the DMK to the PM’s table, reports Shekhar Iyer.

Though it has vowed to back the UPA in the trust vote, the PMK, led by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, on Wednesday brought its bitter tussle with the DMK to the Prime Minister’s table.

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The southern ally, which has six MPs, asked the PM to bring pressure on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to free one of its MLAs, J. Guru, who was arrested under the National Security Act.

The DMK had broken off ties recently with the PMK, citing utterances of Guru who had alleged threatened some DMK leaders.

The issue could snowball if the Centre fails to brings any pressure on the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The Congress cannot irritate the DMK, which has 16 MPs, including former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran who wishes to abstain.

DMK leaders believe that the PMK’s drama in the Capital is only a prelude to it eventually drifting towards the AIADMK. In fact, Central DMK ministers were not happy that the PMK managed to gain audience with the PM at short notice.

“This has nothing to do with the confidence motion. We have completely assured the Central government of our support on the nuclear deal. In our party resolution, we have unanimously stated that we will support the Congress-led government at the Centre,” said Ramadoss.