DINDIGUL: Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK has rejected demands from a section of the Congress-allied state unit to share power after this summer’s assembly elections, with minister I Periyasamy assuring on Sunday that “there will be no coalition government here”. Speaking in Dindigul, Periyasamy pointed out that Tamil Nadu has always been ruled by a single party and this tradition will continue even after the subsequent elections. This is the first time that DMK has officially rejected the demand, which has gained traction in the last few months. Periyasamy, DMK deputy general secretary and rural administration minister, admitted that the Congress had the right to put forward the demand, but made it clear that CM MK Stalin was not inclined to accept the demand. “There has always been one-party rule in Tamil Nadu. The CM is adamant on this,” Periyasamy said.
Even within TN Cong, some are not pushing for a coalition government The comments come amid a growing chorus for power-sharing. Sections of the Congress, including MP Manickam Tagore, have stressed that no party alone can win elections in Tamil Nadu and that the time has come to discuss coalition governments. Tagore had said that the debate was no longer just about gaining power but also about sharing it. Although the DMK has its alliance to thank for its successive election victories, the party has consistently resisted calls for power-sharing. The DMK’s other allies are also divided on this issue – unlike the Congress, the VCK, Left parties and MDMK do not insist on a coalition government. Even within the Congress there are voices, including that of head of state K. Selvaperunthagai, who do not support the demand. However, AICC’s Tamil Nadu chief Girish Chodankar has pushed for coalitions and suggested that political parties should call themselves “NGOs” when they declare that they do not want power. With input from agencies
