Vaiko’s remark has only helped raise Karunanidhi’s stock

Chennai

With the election fever catching up in the state and when the moves of all parties and politicians are viewed by the public and observers through magnifying glasses, Vaiko’s reputation as a gentleman-politician has taken a severe beating.

Vaiko, also donning the role of an advocate, might have attempted to avoid yet another defamation case from Karunanidhi by cleverly arranging his words when he said ‘Kalaignar can do that profession’ but his subsequent explanation that he meant ‘Kalaignar also knows how to play nagaswaram’ is the one which pulled the political discourse to a new low.

While the DMK cadre and the public were led to believe that Karunanidhi is saddened by the remarks of Vaiko, the DMK patriarch — known for his Chanakyan acumen — has decided to remain quiet and let the public opinion shape on its own in  due course.

Writer Kavithasaran in his seminal political commentary on Karunanidhi has said that political adversaries trying to denigrate the DMK president by associating him with his caste is a recurrent feature in the state.

The 2008 essay published in the famous Kavithasaran little magazine points out that despite all these insinuations, Karunanidhi has raised his stature with his unique persona and self-respect.

In a different context, Kavithasaran points out that he is second to none in statesmanship and adds that he knows very well how and when to use even obscure issues to his advantage and raise himself to a high pedestal in the public eye.

The present episode proves the point with Karunanidhi preferring to remain silent even after Vaiko tendering a fervent apology and DMK cadre continuing to burn the effigies of Vaiko all over the state.

“Till now, Kalaignar has not said a word that my fervent apology on the issue is accepted,” Vaiko said in a statement on Friday, and added that if Kalaignar enjoys DMK cadre burning his effigies so be it.

Vaiko going overboard to criticise Karunanidhi on Wednesday and putting his alliance partners in a spot is not the first time he has lost his balance during this election season. On March 23, when the Vijayakant-led DMDK struck an alliance with PWF, an overenthusiastic Vaiko shell-shocked his PWF counterparts by rechristening PWF as ‘Captain Vijayakant Front.’ “The following week proved to be an arduous one for us as we had to safeguard the name ‘People’s Welfare Front’ that is eight months old,” a PWF leader told DTNext on condition of anonymity.

Two days later, on March 25, Vaiko alleged the DMK had offered Rs 500 crore to Vijayakant for joining his alliance, which Premalatha Vijayakant promptly played it down causing embarrassment to PWF coordinator. In response to this allegation, DMK president M Karunanidhi shot off a legal notice to Vaiko for accusing him of offering money. “On all these occasions, we requested Vaiko to exercise restraint as such controversies hijack the limelight from DMDK-PWF combine and divert the constructive political discourse,” the PWF leader said and added that it was unfortunate that Vaiko had yet again created a controversy.

While the PWF leaders are distraught as Vaiko has stolen the limelight for all wrong reasons, they are hopeful that such diversions will not occur  again.