NEW DELHI, July 15: The latest stand-off between the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazagham) and the Left parties is only the latest in a long series of skirmishes the two sides have kept up over the years. And peace, even if achieved this time, is not likely to last.

The two generally end up taking opposite positions on most issues and it is surprising that the latest spat took so long in coming after the United Front government was formed. Though the DMK dropped its bombshell yesterday, indirectly citing the Bihar Chief Minister's political future with the UF as a contentious issue, it is being seen as a front to score other points.

Only two weeks ago, the DMK and CPI(M) indulged in some brickbatting at a high level. The DMK held the CPI(M) guilty of reneging on the scrapping of Article 356 of the Constitution. The Tamil dominated party flayed the CPI(M) and praised the BJP: an act which predictably aroused the CPI(M)'s wrath. The DMK had held its special conference at Salem, Tamil Nadu, where it passed a resolution condemning the CPI(M).

The DMK's resolution said: ``The CPI(M) had at one time passed a resolution in the West Bengal Assembly that Article 356 should be deleted (from the Constitution). But the situation today is that the same CPI(M) has joined hands with the Congress in saying that Article 356 need not be removed. This is a startling development in Indian political history.'' Normally criticism is confined to verbal sniping and resolutions are not passed as a matter of routine in such strong language against a political ally. The DMK's resolution went on to laud the BJP saying it was heartening that a party which had earlier wanted power to be concentrated at the Centre, now wanted Article 356 to be deleted. In one stroke, the DMK had equated the CPI(M) with the Congress and praised the BJP. Soon the CPI(M) retaliated. Its Politburo member Prakash Karat took the DMK on and in a long statement clarified his party's stand. Karat said the BJP had actually wanted modifications to Article 356 and advised M Karunanidhi to find out why they thought so. Karat called the episode unfortunate, saying the top leadership of the DMK was publicly seeking to malign the CPI(M) on a matter which required cooperation.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.