The Tamil Maanila
Congress (TMC) leader G.K. Moopanar is known for being taciturn. But he is not without a
wry sense of humour. When the inevitable rumours of a compromise solution with him as
Prime Minister began doing the rounds in Delhi, the TMC leader was confronted by the
press. He was quite unfazed: "First let it happen. Then I will comment on it."
Actually, Moopanar would not have been unhappy at such a turn of events. When Deve Gowda
was ousted last April, Moopanar could well have been his successor had it not been for the
DMK's objections. Sitaram Kesri believed that the Jain Commission would have been
Moopanar's opportunity to pay the DMK back. Karunanidhi's strident invocation of Tamil
pride unsettled those calculations, but till the last moment the landlord from Thanjavur
kept his options open. If others had blinked, Moopanar would have joined them
unreservedly. But like his mentor K. Kamaraj, he kept his cards very close to his chest.
This cautiousness may help him save his alliance with the DMK until opportunity knocks
again. Moopanar just hates playing second fiddle.
The Tamil Maanila
Congress (TMC) leader G.K. Moopanar is known for being taciturn. But he is not without a
wry sense of humour. When the inevitable rumours of a compromise solution with him as
Prime Minister began doing the rounds in Delhi, the TMC leader was confronted by the
press. He was quite unfazed: "First let it happen. Then I will comment on it."
Actually, Moopanar would not have been unhappy at such a turn of events. When Deve Gowda
was ousted last April, Moopanar could well have been his successor had it not been for the
DMK's objections. Sitaram Kesri believed that the Jain Commission would have been
Moopanar's opportunity to pay the DMK back. Karunanidhi's strident invocation of Tamil
pride unsettled those calculations, but till the last moment the landlord from Thanjavur
kept his options open. If others had blinked, Moopanar would have joined them
unreservedly. But like his mentor K. Kamaraj, he kept his cards very close to his chest.
This cautiousness may help him save his alliance with the DMK until opportunity knocks
again. Moopanar just hates playing second fiddle.
