Kalaignar chooses Stalin as successor

The story was first published in THE WEEK on February 10, 2013

A decade-and-a-half ago Muthuvel Karunanidhi announced that the DMK was not a mutt to anoint a successor, and that the party cadre would decide its future leader. Last month, however, Karunanidhi named his son M.K. Stalin as the most suitable leader for the top party post. The only other contender for the post, M.K. Alagiri, Union minister and Karunanidhi's elder son, has been reduced to a silent spectator. His family, barring his mother, Dayalu Ammal, and the party have chosen to support Stalin. Dayalu Ammal, who has been his sole supporter, has been ailing and so Alagiri is left to fight it out alone. Rivalry between the siblings, which has been simmering for a while, finally exploded when Karunanidhi said on January 3 that Stalin would continue the social work, after him. Alagiri reacted angrily by quoting his father: "The DMK is not a mutt to anoint the next pontiff."

Two days later, he kept away from the birthday celebrations of his half-sister Kanimozhi, who turned 45. And just when everyone thought the succession war would peter out, as usual, the 89-year-old patriarch clarified his stand. "If I get the chance, I will propose Stalin's name," he said. But he insisted that "anyone could contest the party general elections and be elected to lead the party". "It's fait accompli," said A.R. Venkatachalapathy, observer of Dravidian politics and professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies. "What is new in it? Alagiri was never a challenge to his younger brother. But we have to wait and see how Stalin performs. The biggest challenge for Stalin is to swing the vote bank towards him. Since the DMK is basically a party of status quo, we can't expect any major policy changes."

Stalin has gone through the grind within the party. He became the youth wing leader when Karunanidhi sent Alagiri to Madurai in the late 80s to strengthen the party in southern Tamil Nadu. In 2006, Alagiri was sent to Delhi along with Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi Maran as MPs, clearing the way for Stalin to rise unchallenged in the party. While Alagiri did not relish being the Union minister, Stalin strengthened his links within the party and won over many regional leaders and district secretaries. The 'Stalin formula' started asserting itself as Alagiri was busy protecting himself and his cronies, who were entangled in land-grabbing cases.

Stalin steadily captured his brother's fiefdom, by luring the southern chieftains into his faction. He also gained control of the party in Chennai, and the cadres who call on Karunanidhi are now particular that they meet Stalin, too. Alagiri's helplessness is apparent as he struggles to save his son Durai Dayanidhi, who is alleged to be involved in a Rs 16,000 crore granite scam. "There is nothing to react now. Let me talk to you later," Stalin said when THE WEEK approached him for his reaction on being named as Karunanidhi's successor.

The Alagiri faction was more vocal. "Annan [Alagiri] is not here to create any confusion within the party," said an Alagiri supporter in Madurai. But his supporters make sure not to irk Stalin either, and so they decided to keep away from Alagiri on his 62nd birthday on January 30. "Visiting Annan at this time might hurt Stalin. We do not want any more confusion," said K. Rajendran, a party functionary near Madurai. Alagiri's younger brother, M.K. Thamizharasu, and their only sister, Selvi Selvam, have already rallied behind Stalin. Kanimozhi and her mother, Rajathi Animal, have always toed Karunanidhi's line. "She will not react on this now because it will fuel Alagiri's anger. She has always supported both her brothers," said a Kanimozhi supporter.

As for the Maran brothers, their focus is on winning the legal battle after the Aircel-Maxis deal. But, they, too, have decided to go with Stalin. "Like Kanimozhi or Alagiri, the Marans do not have any factions to back them. They had always been silent players in the party," said S. Anbazhagan, a DMK member in Chennai. "The decision will enthuse Stalin, who has worked tirelessly for the party," said MP and former Union minister T.R. Baalu, adding it was a foregone conclusion that Stalin would succeed Karunanidhi.