New Delhi:
With its First Family now officially accused of corruption, the DMK closed ranks on Tuesday around Kanimozhi, the daughter of the party chief, M Karunanidhi.
He visited her at his home - a clear signal that her battle in court will not be a lonely one. The DMK's bravado also includes a warning that it may opt out of the government at the Centre. A meeting today in Chennai will determine if that's likely.
Kanimozhi, who is widely accepted as her father's favourite child, was formally accused by the CBI on Monday of conspiring with A Raja to accept a massive bribe in India's largest-ever telecom scam. Mr Raja is also from the DMK; he is currently in jail. When he was Telecom Minister, he allegedly sold spectrum and mobile network licenses to companies at throwaway prices in return for super-size kickbacks. One of those bribes was routed to a TV channel owned largely by Kanimozhi and her stepmother, Dayalu Ammal.
The CBI has not bought Kanimozhi's explanation - the cheque for 214 crores was an investment in return for equity and that when the deal fell apart, the money was returned. She has been summoned to court on May 6 and faces the risk of being arrested.
"It was explained earlier and she will prove that she has nothing to do with the issues concerned...it's a regular business deal and we have time and again stated that it is a regular business deal, that's all...there is nothing more to it...", said TKS Elangovan, the DMK spokesperson.
The DMK has also declared its discontent with the fact that the interrogation of Kanimozhi and Dayalu Ammal in March was highly-publicized; and that days ago, the fact that Kanimozhi would be named in the CBI's chargesheet on the 2G scam was leaked to the media.
The DMK may believe the Congress has not shown it the respect that political allies merit from each other; but the fact is that the option before the party are in the slim to none category. Tamil Nadu has just voted for its next government - the DMK and Congress contested the election together. If the result is indecisive, the DMK will need the Congress to push it back into power. If Jayalalithaa's AIADMK wins, the DMK may need the Congress more than ever to protect it from a vengeful rival in a state where court cases are frequently used to settle political scores.
The DMK will decide its strategy at a meeting of its senior leaders today in Chennai. Its bargaining power with the Centre - especially the Congress - will hinge on the 18 MPs and six Union ministers that it currently offers to the UPA alliance.