When the whole of India was aghast at the Mumbai carnage,
Tamilnadu was engrossed in its own issues.
The rains were of course causing troubles.
But the establishment as such seemed not to worry
much about the happenings in Mumbai.
When the rest of India was fuming about how terrorists can be allowed a free run,
Tamilnadu continued to accuse a neighboring Government
for its war on terrorists in its soil.
When the rest of India wants to put an end to terrorism,
Tamilnadu is praying for the LTTE chief's birthday.
When the rest of India wants the Government to be strict with the terrorists,
Tamilnadu wants the Government to plead with Srilanka to
spare a terrorist organization.
When the focus of the entire India is on stopping terrorism,
Tamilnadu is sending a delegation to the PM,
to plead for LTTE,
(the terrorist organization that killed our former PM)
besides of course asking for flood relief.
The amazing event in this back-drop
is the sudden patch-up
that happened with the Marans!
While the dust and din over Karunnaidhi's last ultimatum to the Marans
in a fiercely loaded write-up in Murasoli
has not yet died down in the media and the Public,
here is our CM embracing the persons
whom he fiercely detested until the previous day.
The timing makes me wonder whether the Mumbai carnage
and the attendant public reaction,
obviously against the Government at the Centre
has done a ChaaNakya of Karunanidhi!
There is no gainsaying the fact that Mumbai happening
will fore-shadow the chances of UPA in Tamilnadu too,
in the coming elections.
Congress obviously can not pull out any magic in the elections.
With Communists hob-nobbing with the ADMK,
it is not a good idea to have too many enemies in the fray.
PMK can be pulled back at any time at will,
to add to numbers.
So as far as the numbers matter,
it is an even chance for Karunanidhi.
But what about the havoc that can be caused by the media?
It is not good to have too many channels –
that too an important channel like the Sun TV
to be working in opposition to him.
A large chunk of the media must come under his control.
Earlier, Mr Karunandihi would not have worried about the Sun-effect on him.
But with UPA in unstable wicket,
he can not take chances.
Freebies, waivers and
particularly embraces with minorities can not be depended upon.
Even if Congress fails, he must win
to have adequate numbers
so that in the next government , he can again have a say.
The Mumbai attacks seem to have rung the caution bell in him
and he lost no time in preaching his sons
the wisdom of cuddling together in the days ahead,
so that they can stay on – with strength.
Whether he supports LTTE or not, who will worry,
if he has the numbers with him?
Whether he mis-governs or not, who will ask,
if he wins more seats?
How else can we explain the
'broad-mindedness' in embracing the Marans
and adding Radhika Sarat kumar in the delegation to Delhi?
He has cleverly bought every dissenting voice in Tamilnadu.
The rest can be taken care of by Vijaykanth.
As usual, we the people of Tamilnadu
are going to be mute spectators to
a Government that does not function,
the officialdom that serves its masters,
and to OUR money that is gifted as color TVs and gas stoves
as though given from Karunannidhi's own pocket!
