Congress' setback in Bihar may have repercussions in DMK-led alliance

A rudderless Congress slipping out of national reckoning would come under scrutiny by the DMK which is determined to stage a come back in 2021. More so, the present Bihar election results are a re-enactment of what happened in Tamil Nadu in 2016. In that election, the Congress which contested 41 seats but could win in only eight of them.

Chennai: Beaten and bruised in the Bihar assembly elections, the Congress might face its repercussions in Tamil Nadu as well. With the Grand Old Party’s poor performance widely considered as having cost the RJD dearly, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), heading the secular combine in the southern state might have a rethink on keeping it in the alliance. Even if it retains the Congress as an ally, the Dravidian major could part with a lesser number of seats than the previous poll. A rudderless Congress slipping out of national reckoning would come under scrutiny by the DMK which is determined to stage a come back in 2021.

More so, the present Bihar election results are a re-enactment of what happened in Tamil Nadu in 2016. In that election, the Congress which contested 41 seats but could win in only eight of them, losing the remaining 33. This was a reason for the DMK's failure to dislodge the AIADMK-led by Jayalalithaa as the difference between the two parties was only around 1 percent. The waning electoral relevance of the national party has become a cause of serious concern for the DMK leadership as well as party functionaries. Earlier in 2011, the Congress entered the fray in 63 in alliance with the DMK but romped home only in 5.

Now, the Bihar assembly poll has put a huge question mark on the much-touted Congress revival in the Hindi heartland and the DMK had not lost sight of this.

“Congress needs to carry out a self-appraisal. The results of the Bihar election show that the party had to reorient itself,” says Rajya Sabha Member and DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan.

However, party youth wing leader Udayanidhi Stalin maintained that each state election is different and hence the Bihar polls would not have any impact on the Congress in Tamil Nadu. “The dynamics of each state election are not the same. The Congress in Tamil Nadu is what it is and there is no cause for concern. The DMK alliance is intact and it will secure the people's mandate,” he told reporters at the airport here.

Yet, in private DMK leaders maintain that the Congress could expect the party's largesse in seat sharing. “We can't give a lion's share to the Congress as was the case in the past. We have to accommodate other allies as well and could hardly ignore the demand from our own rank and file,” said a party senior, who does not want to be named.

The Congress contradicting the DMK in public over the release of the seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case has not gone down well with the DMK. A day after DMK president, who is also Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, writing to the Governor seeking their expeditious release of the seven convicts, TNCC president KS Alagiri issued a statement which was a scathing attack on that demand. No wonder, the DMK suspects that it could not have come without the high command's assent.

Denying any rift or uneasiness in the alliance, the Congress maintains that all is well. “The Bihar results have no bearing in Tamil Nadu. True spoilers like Owaisi have split the secular votes and the Congress lost many seats by a slender margin. Tamil Nadu is not Bihar and our alliance with the DMK is as strong as ever,” says party spokesperson A Gopanna.

The DMK's requirement for a staunch ally at the national level, observers say would keep its alliance with the Congress intact. Moreover, the Congress party could bring the winning margin, it is pointed out.

“The DMK might reduce the number of seats to the Congress. It may not go to the extent of ditching the national party as it ensures the icing on the cake besides other allies. The Congress party too should understand the sensitivities of the Dravidian major and act accordingly. The Bihar results would only help the DMK to be stingy during seat-sharing parleys,” explains analyst Aazhi Senthilnathan.