CHENNAI, May 12: Exactly a year ago, on May 13, 1996, Muthuvel Karunanidhi, made yet another dramatic comeback in a turbulent political career, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

The seemingly invincible Jayalalitha was trounced, including in her own constituency of Bargur, and the script-writer turned politician re-entered the seat of power Fort St. George for his third term as chief minister, with a massive mandate.

The alliance with the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), is also a year-old. The relationship was recently strained during the election of United Front leader. The effigy of Finance Minister Chidambaram was burnt by DMK men after Industry Minister Murasoli Maran's effigy was set fire to. Both TMC leader G K Moopanar and Karunanidhi have subsequently said the issue had been forgotten as a `bad dream'.

In an interview to The Indian Express on completion of one year in office, Karunanidhi indicated that he was not perturbed about reports of strains in the relationship with the TMC, and appeared cheerful right through. He said the relations continued to be smooth.

Karunanidhi was reminded about his statement a few months ago in reply to a query from the AIADMK whether the honeymoon between the DMK and TMC had ended he had stated then that the honeymoon was over and they were leading married life. The DMK president and chief minister said he had merely made use of a quote of late chief minister and DMK founder C N Annadurai in the past. Asked how the relationship between the two parties was now, Karunanidhi said they are good.

On the views of some persons that the DMK and TMC would go in for a divorce, Karunanidhi quipped ``some persons who do not want us to be together would like a divorce but Moopanar and I are keen that the alliance should continue and there should be no break in the interest of the state''.

Though some persons at lower levels in the TMC were misled and had a misconception, the leadership of the TMC was clear, he said.

Asked whether the TMC had accepted his explanation that he had tried his best to make Moopanar the PM but had failed as the CPM and the Janata Dal had other ideas, he said he presumed so.

Karunanidhi conveyed the signal that the state enjoyed political stability, backed by allies here and at the Centre, which would go down well with foreign and domestic investors. The aim is to make Tamil Nadu the no. 1 industrialised state by the year 2,000, he says.

Karunanidhi also felt that changes could be introduced to eliminate some of the redundant posts like district board chairman and revert to the Kamaraj pattern, when elections are next held, and for direct election of chairpersons of panchayat unions.

Similarly, co-operatives could also have revised poll guidelines to comply with NDDB norms. The DMK-TMC alliance won most of the seats in the local bodies and the DMK retained the Pudukottai seat in the by-election. Elections were held to corporations including Chennai after a gap of 23 years.

Whatever be the assessment of the DMK administration, it must be admitted that Karunanidhi had put a lid on corruption at the top, choosing a set of honest and efficient IAS and IPS officers for crucial posts.

Impartial observers would testify that he has also restored certain democratic processes more tolerance towards the press; parliamentary debates in the State Assembly; removal of certain draconian provisions like the sealing of the in-gate at the Secretariat and traffic restrictions whenever the CM travelled; access to the media, officials and the public; prompt disposal of files and greater transparency and orderly public life by the lawmakers.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.