With the death of DMK patriarch M.K. Karunanidhi in 2018, an era in Tamil Nadu politics ended. Karunanidhi first entered the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1957, became a minister as the DMK came to power in 1967 and first became chief minister two years later.
The long and dominant presence of Karunanidhi in Tamil Nadu politics for over 50 years meant his son, M.K. Stalin, would frequently have to battle claims of nepotism.
Both the BJP and its partner, the AIADMK, have harped on the theme of the DMK being a dynastic party in the ongoing election campaign. The shrillness of the charge has risen after the DMK announced that Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi, would be contesting in the coming polls from the Chepauk-Triplicane constituency in Chennai. On March 21, BJP leader C.T. Ravi alleged, "DMK stands for dynastic politics. After M. Karunanidhi, Stalin is the owner of the party. Udhayanidhi will be the owner of the party next.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E.K. Palansiwami, speaking at a rally in Villupuram on March 20, declared "The DMK is a party without any policy or ideology and it only hankered after power for 'family'. It was previously Karunanidhi, and then (his son) Stalin and now Udhayanidhi Stalin has emerged. This election is all about putting a full stop to dynasty politics."
The rise of Stalin had also created unease in the DMK. In 1993, the DMK expelled Vaiko, then a Rajya Sabha member, from the party over differences with Karunanidhi, including on the projection of Stalin.
Not surprisingly, Stalin has taken on the charges of nepotism. Speaking at rallies in recent days, Stalin has chronicled his involvement in politics since the age of 14.
The New Indian Express reported Stalin has used rallies to chronicle "how he established a DMK youth club in Gopalapuram when he was just 14, took up an Anna memorial torch rally from his mausoleum to Kancheepuram where the DMK conference was held in 1971, made a formal entry into the party from the grassroots as a ward representative, then district representative, then general council member, youth wing secretary, Thousand Lights MLA, Chennai mayor, local body minister, and then, finally, deputy chief minister".
Sabaathy Mohan, DMK's deputy propaganda secretary, was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying, "Stalin was given a ministerial berth only in 2006, third time after he was successfully elected as an MLA. Many of his juniors were given the post earlier by our chief, M Karunanidhi, both in 1989 and 1996. He was given a posting only after he proved his mettle. This message must reach the voters.”
Slow and steady rise
Stories have abounded of how Stalin campaigned as a 14-year-old schoolboy for the DMK in the 1967 election. The party's win in the election was a watershed: It was the first poll victory by a Dravidian party and marked the end of the Congress as a major party in Tamil Nadu. Stalin was also jailed as a 23-year-old in February 1976 during the Emergency soon after the dismissal of the Karunanidhi government. Stalin claims he and other DMK supporters were tortured in police custody and even shows a scar on his arm as a testimony of this. Stalin said he and other DMK men spent a year in jail and endured torture for three months.
Stalin's ascent within the DMK began with his elevation to the post of its youth wing chief in 1984. His continuation in the post for over three decades, eventually, triggered criticism and even jokes.
Stalin earned plaudits for his work as mayor of Chennai (1996), during which he oversaw building of flyovers and modernisation of the city's garbage collection infrastructure and schools.
Image makeover
Political consultancy, I-PAC, run by poll strategist Prashant Kishore, has been working to improve the image of Stalin. The inputs from I-PAC led to the DMK launching a campaign to provide over 20 lakh meals to the needy during the COVID-19 lockdown last year. The DMK also initiated an online membership drive. Stalin participated in village meetings by sitting with villagers to learn their problems.
“Everyone wants to hold him [Stalin] and speak to him. Women pull his cheeks and hug him, men offer their blessings, children want to speak to him about personal issues,” The Print quoted an I-PAC member as saying. “The public no longer responds to the idea of a leader on a stage; they want them standing with them,” the I-PAC member added.
Stalin had been haunted by charges of favouritism, rivalry with his brother M.K. Alagiri and his own reputation in the past of being a lumpen leader and a poor orator, in contrast with the eloquence of his father. However, even his critics have acknowledged his hard work and persistence.
Stalin has been praised for his understanding of governance and also rapport with allies. This includes reaching out to Vaiko. Vaiko entered the Rajya Sabha again in 2019, with backing from the DMK. On the other hand, Vaiko has endorsed Stalin as the main contender for post of Tamil Nadu chief minister.
