Perceived as gravitating towards the BJP in recent days, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is expected to clarify, at the two-day `golden jubilee conference', the party's latest political thinking on the controversial issue of backing the proponents of Hindutva, an ideology much derided by the Dravidian movement.

At a time when his arch rival, AIADMK leader Jayalalitha, is continuing in the BJP-led coalition in an atmosphere of mutual discomfiture, Karunanidhi's recent remarks, including one in a newspaper interview that he is prepared to support the BJP if the party proves that it is secular, has set the tone for a realignment in Tamil Nadupolitics.

As if to strengthen the impression, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who broke away from the DMK in 1993 after a bitter feud with Karunanidhi, teamed up with the DMK chief to accord a warm welcome to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee here yesterday. Vajpayee himself spoke of a `new dimension' being given to politics in the state in the near future.

In a paradoxical meeting point of conflicting ideologies, Vajpayee paid glowing tributes to late DMK founder C N Annadurai, known to his followers as `Anna', describing him as a revolutionary and visionary.

Federalism, social justice and the role of dignity and principles in politics have been identified as the main themes in Anna's life and work which have impressed the BJP and its national allies.

The DMK meet will also discuss the feasibility of reviving the `third front', and Karunanidhi's meeting with CPM general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet a couple of days ago probably being a beginning of the attempt.

The Left parties have not taken kindlyto Karunanidhi's recent political utterances, which they see as overtures towards the BJP. Surjeet, and his CPI counterpart A B Bardhan, have denounced his stance in public, but the left parties still nurture hopes that the DMK, one of the oldest and most steadfast regional parties in the country, would not deviate from the path of secularism charted for it by Anna.

M K Stalin, party's youth wing secretary and son of the DMK chief M Karunanidhi, will lead the golden jubilee rally tomorrow in Tirunelveli city.

Karunanidhi will address partymen on September 18, when he is likely to make some important announcements vis-a-vis the DMK's relationship with the BJP.