Within minutes of being elected, unopposed, as the President of the DMK, a post his late father, M Karunanidhi held for almost five decades, MK Stalin sounded the anti-BJP bugle.
“The Narendra Modi Government is trying to paint the nation in the colour saffron. Let’s teach it a lesson,” he said, accusing the BJP of polarising the country.
By doing so, he has, in a way, set in motion the formation of an anti-BJP alliance in the State for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress and other parties who are opposed to BJP are expected to align with the DMK. BJP, which has a marginal presence in the State, needs significant support (in terms of seats from its allies) to return to power at the Centre.
Stalin did not spare his party’s arch rival in Tamil Nadu, describing the AIADMK government as a ‘spineless’ dispensation that deserved to be thrown out.
Earlier in the day, apart from Stalin’s elevation to the president (only the third the party has had since its formation in 1949), Duraimurugan was elected the Treasurer at the General Council meeting.
A smooth affair
Thus, the succession at DMK turned out to be a smooth affair, despite a feeble unsuccessful attempt by Stalin’s elder brother, MK Alagiri to create a challenge.
In fact, his accession to the throne was a culmination of a long effort that began in 1968 when he launched the Gopalapuram Youth DMK, a precursor to the DMK Youth Wing. In the 50 years that followed, he grew within the party, holding many posts (see Timeline).
Over time, it became clear that he was the chosen successor, and this was sealed when Karunanidhi dismissed Alagiri from the party in 2014 for anti-party activities. Stalin’s elevation to the top post comes at a time when there is a political vacuum in the State, with the demise of two strong leaders, J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi, in a short span of time. This has also brought to fore actor-turned politicians such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan, who are keen to take advantage of the situation. Will Stalin be able to rise to the occasion? He has a ready platform. DMK is a well organised and a disciplined party with a strong vote-share in the State. But experts say a lot will depend on how he plays his cards.
Untested leader
Karunanidhi was a master strategist and, till recently, he was the driving force behind the party. Stalin, in a way, is still an untested leader.
Some point out to the 2001 election debacle, when he played a critical part in the DMK’s poll strategy.
This election saw Jayalalithaa coming back to power after being drubbed five years earlier in a massive unpopular wave. That is many years ago and he has grown as a leader, his supporters argue.
Now, with Stalin assuming the mantle of the party, the future of DMK rests in his hands.