DMK hits back at Congress over delimitation remarks, cites 'trust traded for berths'
New Delhi: The political friction between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Congress intensified on Sunday after senior DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran responded sharply to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on a proposed constitutional amendment bill related to delimitation.
During a visit to Tamil Nadu on Saturday, Mr. Gandhi had said that any party supporting the bill in Parliament would be a "21st century Ettappan," a reference to a historical figure reviled for treachery. The bill, which was defeated in the previous session by a united Opposition, seeks to increase the strength of the Lok Sabha and is linked to the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.
Responding to Mr. Gandhi's remarks, Mr. Maran said, "These are the people who traded our trust in them for mere ministerial berths." He further referred to "poisonous snakes" that sell trust to "buy" power — an apparent allusion to the Congress severing ties with the DMK and aligning with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after the two parties contested the last Lok Sabha elections as allies.
The exchange reflects lingering resentment within the DMK over the Congress's decision to embrace a rival party in Tamil Nadu despite the DMK having extended support to the Congress on key issues, including Mr. Gandhi's leadership, during its time in office.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) circles are reportedly hopeful that the friction between the DMK and Congress could work in their favour, particularly regarding the delimitation bill. The BJP-led government has, however, not yet officially moved to revive the measure.
The DMK has indicated a conditional openness to the bill, stating that it will take a decision after studying the provisions and insisting that the proposed law should not harm south India's interests. The party's stance is significant given that delimitation is expected to alter the balance of parliamentary representation, with southern states likely to lose seats relative to northern states if the exercise is based on population.
Mr. Gandhi's comments are seen as an acknowledgement within the Opposition of the possibility that the DMK might revise its stand on the bill. Opposition parties have alleged that the legislation could allow the ruling alliance to redraw constituencies to its advantage for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
In a further salvo, Mr. Maran accused those who remain silent on Cauvery water rights and do not insist on abolishing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) of being traitors. He also criticised those who condemn "horse-trading" by certain parties but ignore similar actions by the TVK, a claim that the TVK has not yet publicly responded to.
The remarks underscore the growing distance between the DMK and Congress, two parties that were allies in the recent past. The political impact of this spat could be significant as the delimitation process is expected to be a contentious issue in the coming months, with regional parties across the country closely watching the developments.
