As a prelude to the formation of a grand alliance under the DMK, most of the political parties opposed to the BJP and the AIADMK, came under a common platform and declared a general shutdown in Tamil Nadu on April 25. Though the shutdown has been declared to express solidarity with the group of farmers staging agitation in New Delhi for the last 34 days, the general tone of the leaders, who took part in
the meeting convened at Chennai on Sunday, was against the Narendra Modi Government and its ‘anti-farmers policies’.
The meeting was convened by MK Stalin, the working president of the DMK, at the party head quarters. Besides the Congress, the Muslim league and the Islamic parties, traditional allies of the DMK, the meeting also saw the participation of the Communists, VCK, and some of the fringe caste outfits.
Briefing the media after the conclave, Stalin said the shutdown was to highlight the agrarian crisis in the State and the ‘indifference’ of Edappadi Palaniswamy Government towards the farmers. “We want the Government to declare
a cash compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre to all the farmers in
the State. The Central Government should immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board so that Tamil Nadu would be able to get the share of the Cauvery water ordered by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal,” said Stalin.
Though Stalin and other leaders were silent about any kind of political alliance, it may be noted that this is the first time that all these parties are coming together after the 2004 lok Sabha elections when the rainbow alliance led by the DMK and consisting of all these parties swept the polls winning all the 39 seats in Tamil Nadu.
The parties which did not attend the Sunday conclave were the MDMK led by Vaiko, the DMDK led by cine actor Vijayakant and the PMK. The possibilities of these parties joining the DMK-led front look bleak.
Mutharasan, the CPI general secretary, said more parties would join the collective against the Governments at the Centre and the State. Though the CPI, the CPI(M) and the VCK had contested the Assembly election held in May 2016, they drew blank and are in the wilderness in Tamil Nadu.
SThirunavukkarasar, the BJP man-turned Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief, said the agitation was also to force Prime Minister Modi to call on the farmers who are protesting in New Delhi under the leadership of Ponnuchamy Ayyakkannu.
With trouble brewing up in the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction against deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, the DMK is hoping that the State is on its way to another snap Assembly election.
Stalin in his recent statements had expressed confidence that the situation in Tamil Nadu is ideal for an election to the Assembly.