The victory of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu is not expected to have any impact on Sri Lanka unless war erupts in the island and Tamil refugees flee to the Indian state in large numbers.
All Dravidian parties will continue to oppose an India-Sri Lanka defence agreement. Unlike others, the DMK may not make a noise about it and instead lobby against it quietly.
The reason the DMK would do this is not because of any sympathy for the LTTE but because such an accord is seen as a decisive show of support by New Delhi to the “Sinhalease-Buddhist state” in Colombo as opposed to the “Tamil side”.
But because the DMK – and its PMK ally – are partners in the Congress-led central government, they are forced to temper their words and conduct so as not to be in conflict with the country’s national and strategic interests.
Vaiko’s MDMK is also a part of India’s ruling coalition but its influence is now tipped to wane because of the anti-DMK line it took in the polls.
It is significant that Tamil Nadu parties did not make Sri Lanka a campaign issue in the May 8 elections although a warlike situation has prevailed there since December.
All Dravidian parties will continue to oppose an India-Sri Lanka defence agreement. Unlike others, the DMK may not make a noise about it and instead lobby against it quietly.
The reason the DMK would do this is not because of any sympathy for the LTTE but because such an accord is seen as a decisive show of support by New Delhi to the “Sinhalease-Buddhist state” in Colombo as opposed to the “Tamil side”.
But because the DMK – and its PMK ally – are partners in the Congress-led central government, they are forced to temper their words and conduct so as not to be in conflict with the country’s national and strategic interests.
Vaiko’s MDMK is also a part of India’s ruling coalition but its influence is now tipped to wane because of the anti-DMK line it took in the polls.
It is significant that Tamil Nadu parties did not make Sri Lanka a campaign issue in the May 8 elections although a warlike situation has prevailed there since December.
