AIADMK-TNCC(I) row set at rest

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, AUG. 20. A week of fierce hostility between the AIADMK and the State Congress(I) virtually came to a dramatic end today at a function organised by the TMC here to mark the 57th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and the 70th birthday of the TMC president, Mr. G.K. Moopanar.

The TNCC(I) president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, and the AIADMK presidium chairman, Mr. K. Kalimuthu, who were locked in a war of words over the past week, shared the dais at the function, shook hands, exchanged pleasantries and appeared to laugh away the acrimony.

Minutes before the mass marriages of 75 couples, as part of the birthday celebrations, were solemnised at the Kamaraj Arangam, there was a dramatic reunion of the two bitter allies. As the lensmen clicked away, the Pondicherry Chief Minister, Mr. P. Shanmugam, and Mr. Moopanar played peacemakers, locked the hands of Mr. Elangovan and Mr. Kalimuthu and virtually brought the bonhomie back in the alliance. Later, speaking at the function, Mr. Elangovan appeared to make a conscious effort to please his ally. While greeting the participants, Mr. Elangovan described Mr. Kalimuthu as ``my respected and affectionate friend.'' Not stopping with that, he approvingly referred to Mr. Kalimuthu's speech earlier at the function. On the other hand, the AIADMK chairperson who had only a couple of days ago, described the Congress(I) president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, as ``infantile,'' paid glowing tributes to Rajiv Gandhi. While the former Prime Minister strove to take the country to the 21st century, the present BJP regime was pushing the nation back to the 16th century, he said.

Recalling the affection Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had for the AIADMK, he said the secular forces should unitedly take on the challenges posed by communal outfits.

Lauding Mr. Moopanar, he said, the TMC leader had the ``magic touch'' of bringing back the party (DMK) which was on the precipice of frustration after a complete rout in 1991, to power in 1996.

The AIADMK-Congress(I) ties took a hostile turn last week, with Mr. Elangovan terming as ``childish'' the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha's demand for the resignation of the Congress(I) Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. S.M. Krishna, over the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan issue. Mr. Kalimuthu fiercely retorted, calling Mrs. Sonia Gandhi ``immature and infantile'' and showering abuses on Mr. Elangovan.

However, with the Congress(I) high command reportedly rapping Mr. Elangovan for his criticism of Ms. Jayalalitha, which set off the ``statement war'' virtually threatening the alliance, the TNCC(I) chief now, appears keen on building bridges. For the past two days, he has been shying away from the media and has refrained from making provocative statements.

Replying to the felicitations at the function, Mr. Moopanar avoided any reference to the row between the AIADMK and the Congress(I) and merely recalled the confidence and affection Rajiv Gandhi had reposed in him.

The CPI State secretary, Mr. R. Nallakannu, State Janata Dal (Secular) president, Mr. G.A. Vadivelu, Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Mr. K. Jagaveerapandian, the Dalit Panthers of India convenor, Mr. R. Tirumavalavan, and senior TMC leaders Mr. P. Chidambaram, Mr. Peter Alphonse and Mr. S. Balakrishnan, were among others who participated in the function.

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