Fissures in PWF; VCK to decide on DMK's all-party meet today

CHENNAI: Cracks have appeared in the People's Welfare Front, the four party alliance of MDMK, VCK and Left parties, with differences emerging between the PWF leadership and the VCK over participation in all party meeting on the Cauvery issue convened by DMK leader M K Stalin at Anna Arivalayam on Tuesday.
The DMK initiative "to protect TN interests" in the inter-state water dispute is seen as a political stunt by rivals, as it comes close on the heels of notification of polls to three constituencies.
A section in the VCK alleged that its leadership was unaware, when PWF coordinator Vaiko made an announcement on Saturday about the constituents turning down DMK's invite. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, who flew down from New Delhi on Saturday night, hurriedly called for a meeting with his state office bearers on Monday purportedly to decide on the party's representation in the DMK meet. The leadership is now in a dilemma, given the long-term political considerations.
VCK sources said the consensus to boycott DMK meet was not arrived at during the discussion when PWF leaders visited the national capital last week to submit a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking his intervention in the Cauvery dispute. Thirumavalavan was said to be keen on participating in the all party meet called by DMK which has been his party's demand all through, given that the ruling AIADMK failed to give in. MDMK, CPM and CPI, however, rejected the idea. Incidentally, the Left parties had sent representatives of farmers' units to Stalin's recent consultative meet in Arivalayam.
VCK, the long-time ally of DMK took a political gamble and became part of the PWF last year, after batting for a coalition government. "VCK functionaries are also divided over attending the DMK convened meet, as it comes a day before the nomination for polls to three constituencies begins," a senior leader said.