http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Despite-pressure-DMK-not-likely-to-ditch-partys-dalit-face/articleshow/7062317.cms
Despite pressure, DMK not likely to ditch party's dalit face
Jayaraj Sivan, TNN, Dec 8, 2010, 02.40am IST
CHENNAI: Bearing the brunt of a combined opposition onslaught, tainted
former Union communications and IT minister A Raja must be a
dispirited man, even though he puts on a brave face before the media.
What could happen to Raja's political career and will the party
leadership distance itself from him are questions many ask. A man who
had replaced DMK chief M Karunanidhi's grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran
with ease, both as the union IT minister and DMK patriarch's
conscience keeper in Delhi, Raja is now the subject of speculation
that the party may distance itself from him for a while to save its
own image.
But not much could be expected against Raja, feel analysts.
Karunanidhi is unlikely to initiate any action against Raja for two
reasons. First, Raja has been touted as the dalit face of the party
for long and DMK cannot afford to ignore it closer to the polls. The
DMK government had earlier withdrawn disciplinary proceedings after
initiating them against two dalits -- C Umashankar, an IAS officer,
and K Kaliappan, former vice-chancellor of Anna University,
Tirunelveli who had called on AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa during his
tenure in office. Besides, the leadership, supporters in his native
district as well as his Nilgiris constituency are still solidly behind
him.
Secondly, even though some senior DMK leaders feel Raja could be a
burden for the party especially during the polls, Karunanidhi would
not ditch his trusted lieutenant. A senior leader told TOI, "There is
no move as of now to drop him from the post of DMK propaganda
secretary. Nevertheless, there is mounting pressure from within his
(Karunanidhi's) family (Stalin and Alagiri) to take some action
against Raja."
The DMK's poll prospects could also depend on the action likely to be
initiated against Raja by various investigating agencies. The negative
impact that a discredited Raja could cause could prove costly to the
alliance in a do-or-die election. It might influence the Congress to
drive a better bargain with the DMK during seat sharing and perhaps
even demand a pre-poll understanding on the formation of a coalition
government.
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