Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08CHENNAI69, FORMER IT MINISTER MARAN SAYS INDIA'S RULING COALITION IN TROUBLE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08CHENNAI69.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08CHENNAI69 2008-02-23 07:38 2011-05-23 01:00 CONFIDENTIAL Consulate Chennai
Appears in these articles:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2040630.ece
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHCG #0069/01 0540738
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 230738Z FEB 08
FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1501
INFO RUEHCG/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CHENNAI 000069 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2018 
TAGS: IN PGOV PREL

SUBJECT: FORMER IT MINISTER MARAN SAYS INDIA'S RULING COALITION IN TROUBLE 

REF: REF: A) 07 CHENNAI 340 B) 07 CHENNAI 337 

Classified By: Consul General David T. Hopper for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) 

 1.  (C) SUMMARY:  DMK Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran spoke candidly about India's current political scene.  He said the upcoming budget will provide clues as to whether the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) expects early elections.  Maran was pessimistic about the UPA's electoral prospects, especially in South India.  He thinks that Congress has no option other than to project Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.  Maran said Rahul Gandhi is a long-shot, but that his elevation could energize India's huge population of young people in favor of the UPA.  Maran also said there is good chance that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati could be India's next Prime Minister.  END SUMMARY. 

Look to Upcoming Budget for Clues on Elections 
-------- 

2.  (C) On February 15, Poloff met with DMK Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran for the first time since he was sacked in May 2007 as the Union IT and Telecommunications Minister following a dispute with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi (reftels).  The Tamil Nadu-based DMK party is a member of the ruling UPA.  With the coalition finely balanced, and the DMK's support critical to the survival of the UPA, the regional party enjoys considerable influence in New Delhi.  Maran began the conversation by saying the government's upcoming budget will tell whether there will be early elections, before the tenure of the current parliament runs out in May 2009. Maran said "if the budget is full of sops for every different constituency, then you know we will have elections this year.  But if it's a normal budget, the UPA will continue into 2009."  But Maran added that he had no knowledge of what is coming in the budget as the Prime Minister's Office and Finance Ministry do not confer with MPs in advance of its release. 

UPA in Tough Straits Down South 
-------- 

3.  (C) Speaking about the UPA's electoral prospects, Maran was very downbeat: "the UPA is in tough shape, especially after Gujarat."  Surveying South India, Maran expected significant losses for the UPA partners.  In Tamil Nadu, Maran said that the DMK party and its partners would lose about half of their seats if things continue as they are. Talking about the increasing anti-incumbency factor in the state, Maran alluded to the general impression that the DMK is especially corrupt, saying "when people get into power they lose concentration and start focusing on making money."  He also spoke about perils of providing freebies: "the problem when you come to power by promising people free TVs is that people soon forget the TVs you gave them and then ask 'what are you doing for me now?'"  (COMMENT: Maran's recent falling out with the DMK leadership was in part due to financial reasons, so his swipe at DMK corruption, although largely accurate, reflects some sour grapes.  Also, when in favor with Karunanidhi, Maran joined in the TV and other give-away schemes that helped the DMK win the 2006 state elections.  END COMMENT.) 

4.  (C) Maran was pessimistic about Indian National Congress's (INC) prospects in Andhra Pradesh, saying Chief Minister YSR Reddy's popularity is on the decline and that he expects Congress to lose a substantial number of the 29 Lok Sabha seats it currently holds.  But he was quick to add that in both Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu the UPA's predicted losses stem from failures of the DMK and Congress parties and not from effective opposition.  The opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh have floundered according to Maran, who said any UPA losses will have "nothing to do with Jayalalithaa (the AIADMK leader) or Naidu (the TDP leader)."  Maran acknowledged that the INC would likely pick up seats in Kerala at the expense of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) but said the gains would not be nearly enough to offset UPA losses in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. 

Roll the Dice on Rahul? 
-------- 

 5.  (C) Maran said the Congress party needs to name Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate.  He recognized that it would be a long-shot, but said "Rahul is the only chance they've got."  Maran told us "he would definitely help in the south," saying Rahul would benefit from the legacy of his father Rajiv Gandhi's popularity in South India.  Maran added that the dynastic element of Rahul's elevation would play well down south:  "If you haven't noticed, we don't have much of a problem with dynastic politics down here.  In fact, we seem to like it."  Maran also feels that Rahul's youth would be a big plus throughout India.  He said "65 percent of India's population is under 30;" projecting Rahul as Congress's candidate could help motivate young voters.  Maran brushed aside complaints that Rahul failed to help the party in the Uttar Pradesh (UP) elections:  "When you send a guy into a losing situation, what do you expect?"  But he said Rahul is being held back by his handlers, who are managing him too closely and keeping him cloistered.  Rahul's big problem, Maran said, is that "he doesn't get to see real people." 

Watch Out for Mayawati 
--------- 

6.  (C) Maran said UP Chief Minister Mayawati "could easily" become India's Prime Minister.  With "no credible opposition" in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will win a large majority of UP's 80 Lok Sabha seats.  Maran told us that both the Congress-led UPA and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance could fall short of a majority of seats in Parliament, with Mayawati's BSP holding enough seats to make up the difference.  He added that "she has said she wants to be Prime Minister and could have the seats to demand it." 

7.  (C) COMMENT:  Despite having fallen out with the DMK's supreme leader, Maran remains a DMK MP and continues to have substantial influence in Tamil Nadu on account of his family's Sun TV media empire (owned by older brother Kalanindhi Maran).  Maran's sober view of the UPA's prospects in South India, and Tamil Nadu in particular, thus merit attention.  But his views on the likelihood of Rahul Gandhi taking the reins in Congress are perhaps colored by his view of himself as part of a new breed of young Indian politicians, playing a similar role in Tamil Nadu's DMK as Rahul does for the Congress party.  To the extent he sees Rahul going places, he is seeing a brighter future for himself too.  END COMMENT. 

8. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy New Delhi. 

HOPPER