Karunanidhi flays UPA over SL-LTTE issue

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Karunanidhi has threatened the centre that he will withdraw support if India does not broker a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. For a long time now, the stalwart from south has been frustrated with the Sri Lanka army's offensive against the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Ealam (LTTE).

The first time he gave a pullout threat to the UPA over the SL-tamil issue was in October 2008. Then his party MPs even enacted a resignation drama when they submitted symbolic resignations. But then political reality dawned on Karunanidhi and the resignation threat was with after Pranab Mukherji met the DMK patriarch.

But Karunanidhi's backtracking on the resignation drama resulted in a loss of face for the DMK on the issue and parties like the PMK and Viduthlai Chiruthaikal Katchi have been demanding a greater commitment from the Chief Minister. And so on the floor of the assembly, the Chief Minister yet again gave out a threat to the central government on the issue.

The DMK chief is aware that he's heading a minority government and needs the Congress's support for staying on in power and hence observers feel that this time too the DMK chief's statements could end up being a mere case of loud posturing but little action. The Congress for its part is remaining silent and doesn't wants to precipitate matters

It would be extremely interesting to see how the Congress reacts to the statements made by the chief minister. Would it try to pacify him like it did the last time or would it just ignore him? And the DMK is aware too that politically it needs the Congress more than the Congress needs it at this time.