MK Stalin coronation on hold, again

The general council of the DMK which met here on Friday adopted 24 resolutions condemning the Jayalalithaa government for its anti-people policies and the Union government for its indifference towards the attack on Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan navy.

Though it was widely believed that 59-year-old MK Stalin, the younger son of Muthuvel Karunanidhi would be elevated as party president, the party played it safe against the backdrop of the indictment of A Raja, the former Telecommunication minister, by the Supreme Court on Thursday which cancelled the 122 licenses of the 2G spectrum issued during his tenure.

The DMK, which has been enjoying uninterrupted ‘power’ in the centre since 1999 either as an ally of the BJP or as a partner of the Congress-led UPA government, is more bothered about safeguarding the party’s position in New Delhi than anointing Stalin which it fears might lead to intra-party problems because of an aggrieved MK Alagiri, the elder son of party chief Karunanidhi.

“Karunanidhi’s children themselves are fighting with each other for power. Stalin, Alagiri and Kanimozhi are at each others throat and Karunanidhi will not aggravate the quarrel by making some announcement at this juncture,” said Gnani Sankaran, a DMK watcher.
 
Karunanidhi, nearing 90, knows very well that coming out of the UPA at this juncture would lead to DMK finding itself in a no man’s land as Chennai is ruled by arch enemy Jayalalithaa. She will not lose a second to pounce on Karunanidhi and his clan the moment they are left with no friends in Delhi.

Party insiders told this newspaper that Stalin could be elevated to the party’s top position on a later date. “Right now, we are worried about the legal implications of the SC judgment. Our immediate and top most priority is to regain our status as leading party in Tamil Nadu. With Karunanidhi in the best of health, the succession issue could be decided and finalized on another occasion,” said a close confidante of Karunanidhi.

He said the party could not waste its time and energy on a controversy which may arise in the eventuality of Stalin’s promotion as working president or party president. “There is still enough time when we can take up the issue and by that time we hope to tame Alagiri too,” said the party leader.

Earlier it was believed that the general council was convened with the intention of making it known to one and all that hereafter Stalin would be the party chief and Karunanidhi would play the role of an elder statesman. It was also decided that party general secretary K Anbalagan would propose Stalin’s name as party chief.

But Thursday’s judgment and the fear of an open revolt by Alagiri forced Karunanidhi and other chieftains to postpone the move.