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From prince in waiting to undisputed king Stalin effects seismic shifts
Major changes encapsulate the DMK in a year of absence of the Dravidian stalwart during the most crucial moments of the party.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
A seismic shift has happened in Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in a year since the demise of its leader M Karunanidhi on this day (August 7) in 2018. As the first death anniversary of the five-time chief minister dawns, startling changes encapsulate the year of DMK in the absence of the Dravidian stalwart during the most crucial moments of the party and country’s political history.
Prominent among them would be the metamorphosis of DMK president MK Stalin into a supreme leader of the party. Besmirched as “prince in waiting” for years, Stalin has demonstrated beyond doubt that he was the undisputed king of the DMK. That the DMK has ‘evolved’ from allowing inner-party democracy and engaging dissent to submitting to Stalin’s unwritten “it’s my way or highway” formula should sum up his omnipotence in 12 months.
He has not only wrested absolute control of power in the party, but also eliminated even traces of dissent in the party ranks, humbling once ‘influential’ leaders. So much so that octogenarian Treasurer Duraimurugan had some difficulty in ensuring his son’s candidature for Vellore Lok Sabha poll, despite falling in line.
Ill-health of party general secretary K Anbazhagan, who was among the first to propose his elevation even during the hay day of Karunanidhi had only made the transition extra smooth for Stalin whose rise started as soon as age got the better of Karunanidhi’s intuition.
In the same vein, faces in the present DMK first family that was once eclipsed by Karunanidhi have stepped into the limelight. While Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareeshan donned the role of chief strategist of the DMK, Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi, not content with being managing director of party organ ‘Murasoli,’ took over the reins of the party youth wing. Unsurprisingly, the transformation has happened at a cost - embargo on free speech. The surprise demotion of former spokesperson TKS Elangovan for accidentally confirming the participation of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Anna Arivalayam statue unveiling was a case in point. And it did not stop there.
Pious party men publicly admitted their faith in the almighty like Vellore candidate Kathir Anand did in the abode of Athi Varadhar on Sunday, raising doubts in the minds of a few old Dravidian school DMK cadre. Curiously, the ideological changes or rather compromises were not as bad as the old guard had feared. The party had opposed the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections and abrogation of Article 370 by the BJP without hesitation after successfully fighting an election with secular minded parties.
Stalin had struck a chord with the cadre and leaders of progressive past by reiterating his commitment to the principles espoused by Karunanidhi’s ideological mentor Periyar.
The eventful year also saw the DMK end its eight-year (election) losing streak and rise from the ashes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which would have been a solace to Karunanidhi who had only seen his party bite dust in last two elections before his demise.
However, the only blemish the DMK had struggled to cover up was the inability to topple the incumbent AIADMK government of Edappadi K Palaniswami and that too after making numerous doomsday predictions.
Noted Dravidian scholar, K Thirunavukkarasu opines, “Stalin has aptly filled the vacuum Kalaignar’s demise had created. The victory in Lok Sabha elections demonstrated his public acceptance as a leader and resurgence of the party.
His engagement with young cadre has widened the party base. His commitment to Dravidian principles was evident from the opposition to 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections.”
Ironically, the DMK of Stalin had demonstrated consistency in supporting a controversial legislation like the NIA Amendment Bill, the same way party led by Karunanidhi supported the Prevention of Terrorist Act.
Fortification Of A Stronghold
- In the past 12 months Stalin has demonstrated beyond doubt that he was the undisputed king of the DMK
- He has struck a chord with the cadre and leaders of progressive past by reiterating his commitment to the principles of Periyar
- The eventful year also saw the DMK end its eight-year losing streak in elections and rise from the ashes in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections
- DMK first family that was once eclipsed by Karunanidhi has stepped into the limelight
- Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi took over the reins of the party youth wing
- The transformation has happened at a cost -embargo on free speech
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