Despite the dynamics of local politics working against the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) supporting foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, the Dravidian party is unlikely to turn the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) cart turtle in the upcoming winter session of Parliament starting from 22 November. Services of finance minister P Chidambaram have been deployed to work out a strategy with DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, said a highly-placed source.
Chidambaram was drafted after Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanaswamy failed as emissary to convince the DMK on the contentious FDI issue, said a source. The source said talks with Chidambaram had a positive outcome as DMK agreed that they would not embarrass the government on the issue of FDI in retail when the discussion comes up in parliament. However, they would oppose its introduction in the state.
DMK’s stand at the state level is dictated by the vote bank consideration, as the Kapu community (essentially traders) is strongly opposed to FDI, said the source. Another factor articulating DMK’s stand is the fact that despite Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa opposing FDI, her party – the AIADMK – did not join the nation-wide, anti-reform bandh, called at the behest of DMK ally – the Left parties.
Sources said during the Parliament session, if West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee does carry her threat forward and her party Trinamool Congress brings a no-confidence motion on FDI, which in turn is supported by the BJP, the DMK could wriggle itself out of the tricky situation on the pretext of not wanting to strengthen communal forces. It’s unlikely that both the DMK and the Left would join hands with Mamata and Jayalalithaa.
The government, last week, already initiated the process of buying peace with north Indian partners with prime minister Manmohan Singh breaking bread with arch rivals Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati at separate meals.
Chidambaram was drafted after Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) V Narayanaswamy failed as emissary to convince the DMK on the contentious FDI issue, said a source. The source said talks with Chidambaram had a positive outcome as DMK agreed that they would not embarrass the government on the issue of FDI in retail when the discussion comes up in parliament. However, they would oppose its introduction in the state.
DMK’s stand at the state level is dictated by the vote bank consideration, as the Kapu community (essentially traders) is strongly opposed to FDI, said the source. Another factor articulating DMK’s stand is the fact that despite Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa opposing FDI, her party – the AIADMK – did not join the nation-wide, anti-reform bandh, called at the behest of DMK ally – the Left parties.
Sources said during the Parliament session, if West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee does carry her threat forward and her party Trinamool Congress brings a no-confidence motion on FDI, which in turn is supported by the BJP, the DMK could wriggle itself out of the tricky situation on the pretext of not wanting to strengthen communal forces. It’s unlikely that both the DMK and the Left would join hands with Mamata and Jayalalithaa.
The government, last week, already initiated the process of buying peace with north Indian partners with prime minister Manmohan Singh breaking bread with arch rivals Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati at separate meals.