Let Them Do: DMK On Reports Of Congress Leaving Tamil Nadu Alliance

Fissures deepened between DMK-Congress alliance with DMK saying that they are ‘not bothered at all’ about whether Congress exits the partnership in the state or not. The development comes a day after the DMK said that only time will tell whether ties with the grand old party would go back to normal. “If they want to quit, let them do so. How are we concerned, what is the loss for us?” Party veteran Durai Murugan said when asked to comment on Congress’s charge that DMK violated coalition dharma.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Pongal event, the DMK treasurer said the party was not worried about the grand old party leaving the alliance and in particular he was not concerned.

Asked whether the votes in favour of DMK would be hit without Congress, Durai Murugan said his party will not be affected at all. "No, not at all. Only if they (Congress) have a vote share ours (votes) will get reduced,” Durai Murugan, flanked by his son Kathir Anand, said.

In his sarcastic style, he said the Congress does not have a vote bank to make a dent on his party’s prospects. “Do they have votes to make an impact?” he quipped.

On his party colleague and former Union Minister TR Baalu saying that only “time will tell” on ties, he said:

“Baalu said only time will tell. But I have answered the question.” Reacting to it, Congress Lok Sabha MP Karti Chidambaram, son of senior leader P Chidambaram, asked in his twitter handle: “Why didn’t this wisdom dawn before the Vellore parliamentary bye election? @DuraimuruganDmk @dmkathiranand.” The Vellore Lok Sabha election was held in August last and Duraimurugan’s son Kathir emerged victorious by a margin of 8,141 votes.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief KS Alagiri again sought to downplay the widening rift, which appeared to heading for a break-up.