Duraimurugan demand faces ‘opposition’ from Anbazhagan

Speaking at the Justice Party anniversary celebration on Tuesday, an emotionally charged Duraimurugan called Stalin “our last hope” and said, “You are our Kalaignar. You are our leader.” Though his push for Stalin’s rise was no surprise, party insiders suggest the political undertone of the emotional outburst has as much do with the principal headquarters secretary seeking to be the Leader of Opposition himself. 

Grapevine has it that some sweeping organisational changes at the helm of the DMK await Karunanidhi’s nod. Names of Duraimurugan and I Periasamy have been seriously considered for the post of general secretary and treasurer by the powers to be, when the much-awaited change of guard happens at the helm, of course, only if the hospitalised DMK chief obliges. Surprisingly, the proposal has faced resistance even before it reached an ailing Karunanidhi. 

For the aspirants, the spoiler happened to be the other nonagenarian this time said sources. Sources have it that party general secretary K Anbazhagan was not averse to Stalin stepping in to his father’s shoes, but he’s unwilling to ‘sacrifice’ his seat to Duraimurugan. “Anbazhagan does not want to quit. He had even resisted moves to declare Stalin as CM candidate ahead of the Assembly election,” said an influential party source requesting anonymity.  “Where is the need for leadership change now? If it were to be done, it should have happened ahead of the Assembly election,” said another party senior, summarily dismissing the recent buzz in Anna Arivalayam as another case of the plans of the future generation going in vain.