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According to DMK circles, it was MK Stalin, the younger son of Karunanidhi, who successfully blocked renewal of poll truck with Congress, despite repeated attempts by Congress to persuade the former UPA trusted ally to take it on board
Notwithstanding debate over dynasty politics, leaders prefer to hand over the baton of their political empire to their wards rather than to senior colleagues as is seen in Tamil Nadu.
Be it the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), where its chief M Karunanidhi’s younger son M K Stalin has emerged as the next in command, or PMK or the Congress, sons appear to be taking the lead as the parties battle it out in the April 24 Lok Sabha elections.
The succession war on who would be the political heir to Karunanidhi in DMK appear to have been resolved with the emergence of Stalin, who has dumped his elder brother M K Alagiri.
The strongman of DMK in the southern Tamil Nadu, Alagiri not only lost the war but has also been suspended from the party for alleged indiscipline ahead of the general elections.
Stalin, who has earned the nickname “Thalapathi” (commander) among the party cadres, is commanding the opposition DMK in the electioneering as his father and cadres pin their hopes on him to revive the party which was routed by AIADMK in the 2011 assembly polls and finished third behind actor-politician Vijaykanth’s DMDK.
Stalin, well trained under the tutelage of his politically seasoned father, has so far lived up to the expectations of the party in taking firm decisions on various issues including forging of alliances for Lok Sabha polls.
According to DMK circles, it was Stalin, who successfully blocked renewal of poll truck with Congress, despite repeated attempts by the Sonia Gandhi-led party to persuade the former UPA trusted ally to take it on board.
The 89-year-old Karunanidhi has entrusted the electioneering task across Tamil Nadu to Stalin and considering his fragile health and age, he would only be lending support to him by campaigning in select constituencies.
