A Raja, the former telecom minister who stepped down from his post in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam, does not appear in the list of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders who will campaign from 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. This list was finalised on Thursday by DMK chief M Karunanidhi.
Insiders say the decision to keep out Raja was well thought out one keeping in mind that opposition parties like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Left in Tamil Nadu would not hesitate to politicise the issue further.
By not involving Raja in the campaign, the DMK is also silencing the Congress, its alliance partner in Tamil Nadu.
Over the past six months, the central leadership through Union Home Minister P Chidambaram have been sending strong messages to Karunanidhi that the 2G scam will boomerang on the party if appropriate action is not taken, say insiders.
A senior DMK functionary said that Union minister T R Baalu and Raja kept Karunanidhi in the dark over his daughter Kanimozhi's strong ties with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia in 2008.
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Indirectly hinting at the third generation of the DMK family -- Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi -- they said, "3G in DMK have taken over the 2G spectrum scam."
Karunanidhi's son MK Alagiri said, "Raja and Kanimozhi's alliance is the reason for present 2G crisis."
Whether DMK remains united or not after the 2G scam is the big question. Moreover, ties with the Congress have also been strained after the controversy, but sources say that Alagiri will play mediator between the two parties.
DMK leaders are expected to meet in Chennai on Wednesday to discuss about their alliance with the Congress, say insiders.
Raja Raids: End of DMK-Cong alliance?