Maran foresaw DMK washout: Cables

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Dayanidhi Maran whose party suffered a landslide defeat in Tamil Nadu elections this year, attributed mainly to graft allegations, had predicted the downfall way back in 2008, U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks say.

The Union Textiles Minister, grandnephew of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, in a candid conversation with an U.S. envoy, had said that the party, the whose leaders have emerged as the main accused in the 2G spectrum scandal, would suffer if it didn?t mend its corrupt image.

In the cable dated Feb 23, 2008, the estranged DMK leader was quoted as saying that party ?would lose about half of their [Lok Sabha] seats if things continue as they are,? hinting that there was a general impression that the DMK was especially corrupt.

?When people get into power they lose concentration and start focusing on making money,? he had said, in what seems to be a dig at ex-Telecoms Minister Andimuthu Raja, a member of his own party, who is now in jail for allegedly masterminding the 2G scam.

Fresh from a spat with party chief Karunanidhi, Maran also seemingly rapped the DMK for its policy of gifting freebies to voters as he said, ?The problem when you come to power by promising people free TVs is that people soon forget the TVs you gave them and then ask ?what are you doing for me now???

U.S. Consul General David T Hopper in the communique to Washington also wrote that Maran was ?very downbeat? about the prospects of the ruling United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) in the 15th Lok Sabha election, observing that ?the UPA is in tough shape, especially after Gujarat.?

Hopper also noted that the Maran?s ?swipe at DMK corruption, although largely accurate, reflects some sour grapes,? hinting that his falling out with the party leadership could be due to financial reasons.

Maran?s praise for Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was also noted by the experienced diplomat, as the DMK leader went as far as calling Gandhi the ?only chance? the UPA had of returning to power in the 2009 elections.

But not getting swayed by Maran’s notions, the U.S. envoy commented, ?His views on the likelihood of Rahul Gandhi taking the reins in Congress are perhaps colored by his view of himself as part of a new breed of young Indian politicians, playing a similar role in Tamil Nadu’s DMK as Rahul does for the Congress party.”

“To the extent he sees Rahul going places, he is seeing a brighter future for himself too,? Hopper said.