THE Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in Tamil Nadu is suffering an overlap of interests. S Ramadoss is trying to talk up a storm over Tamil nationalism and backward caste assertion to revive his Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), leaving DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and the Congress nervous.

Ramadoss has found ready ammunition in his efforts to project himself as a pan-Tamil leader — OBC reservation and the worsening ethnic strife in Sri Lanka. It is an image that is elbowing into Karunanidhi’s space. ‘‘Ulaga tamizharin thalaivar (leader of Tamilians the world over) used to be Karunanidhi’s title. Ramadoss is now eyeing it,’’ says a state Congress functionary. Ramadoss denies such suggestions, at least on record. ‘‘Karunanidhi is the supreme leader of Tamilians and I have no such ambitions,’’ he says.

But party MP K Dhanaraju is more candid. ‘‘The DMK is soft-pedalling these issues. We remain part of the UPA coalition at the Centre and the DPA in Tamil Nadu but will raise issues of Tamils wherever they are,’’ he says.

Ramadoss’ actions betray his impatience — he organised a seminar in Delhi on Sunday on OBC reservation, protested India’s reported supply of radars to Sri Lanka and on return to Tamil Nadu, demanded that the state government lead the way by implementing reservation in the private sector. His son, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, is helping his father in no small measure by firmly backing reservations in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The Lankan crisis is another opportunity — the PMK chief has called for New Delhi to intervene in some form. ‘‘We want our government to persuade Sri Lanka to continue with the peace process. We must realise that the interests of Tamils are involved,’’ Ramadoss says. His position is in contrast with the DMK’s tactic of leaving the entire issue to the Centre.

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