Unlike last time, DMK is clear it won’t follow Congress

NEW DELHI: Signals from DMK and NCP (SP) on the Constitution amendment bill, which will increase seats in Lok Sabha and implement women’s reservation law from 2029, suggest that political momentum is building up in govt’s favour. This comes on the back of the disintegration of Trinamool Congress after BJP trounced it in Bengal elections, and the split in Shiv Sena (UBT).During the debate over the two bills in the last session, The govt had unsuccessfully tried to win over the DMK by offering to write into the bill the commitment that there would be a 50% increase in the representation of all states in Lok Sabha. The bill had received support of 298 MPs in April, and govt is likely to incorporate changes in its draft to assure fence-sitters, including a declaration in writing what home minister Amit Shah had asserted orally last time: seats in every state will go up by 50%.DMK’s willingness to revisit its stand coincides with similar indication from Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which has eight MPs. Numbers are more positively stacked for govt in Rajya Sabha as well.While govt has made no public statement on its intention to bring back the bill, its top functionaries have made it clear they will revive it once they are sure of the numbers.Asked about Congress cautioning DMK, a constituent of INDIA alliance, on going against the bloc’s decision to vote against the bill in the last session, sources in Dravidian party accused their former ally of betrayal. “Congress destroyed INDIA bloc. They betrayed DMK by allying with Vijay-led TVK after winning five seats in the assembly with our support. They should stop preaching to us,” a source said.While DMK sources caveated their willingness to support a delimitation plan that meets their concerns, they were unambiguous in declaring that the party, unlike in the last session, will not follow Congress’ stand on the issue. “Congress has a history of deceiving allies and it destroyed the United Front on flimsy ground,” said the DMK source in a reference to Congress’ decision to withdraw support from the IK Gujral-led govt in 1997 after alleging DMK had connived with the killers of former PM Rajiv Gandhi.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.