By Sanjay Pinto
It happens only in India. A politician accused in one of the country's biggest corruption scandals in post independent history, gets a rousing welcome on his release on bail and arrival in his home State. The scale of the celebration perhaps much more than even what a Viswanathan Anand got after winning his fifth world chess title! Is this part of the dravidian larger than life political culture or quite simple a matter of political expediency?
Andimuthu Raja, who waited for every other accused person in the 2G case to leave Tihar jail, before applying for bail, is an important player in the DMK.
As a prime accused, observers believe that the party boss does need to keep him in good humour to obviate any adverse legal backlash for his daughter Kanimozhi, a co accused in the same case.
Raja belongs to the powerful Dalit community; which commands more than 15% of the vote share in Tamilnadu. Karunanidhi initially kept harping on the caste factor when the scam first came to light, suggesting that Raja was targetted because of a caste bias.
Raja has always been a blue eyed boy of the DMK patriarch. For many years, he quite literally lent a shoulder to Karunanidhi to move along!
As the Propoganda Secretary of the party, Raja has been part of the DMK's electoral think tank and was instrumental in devising its strategy in seats that were considered dicey.
And finally, the lawyer turned Nilgiris MP has built quite a rapport in his home town and emerged as a Perambalur strongman.
Now you know why the DMK needs Raja more than he needs the party!
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