DMK - Split Wide Open

There is never a dull moment in Dravidian politics and this time cracks have appeared in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. What triggered this political crisis was a seemingly innocuous opinion poll published by Tamil daily Dinakaran, owned by the Maran fold. The poll found that over 70 per cent of Tamil Nadu preferred MK Stalin as the successor to Karunanidhi, while elder brother MK Azhagiri had an embarrassing 2 per cent support. Enraged by the poll, thugs from the Azhagiri camp ransacked and set the Madurai office of Dinakaran on fire killing three innocent employees. In a swift turn of events, Karunanidhi summoned over a 100 party functionaries for an emergency meeting and decided to strip Dayanidhi off his ministerial badge. Even before the show cause notice reached him, Dayanidhi faxed his resignation to the PMO, phoned Manmohan and Sonia and hurriedly called a press conference to declare his allegiance to his "Thailavar Kalaignar" (Leader Karunanidhi). "I am born DMK man and I will die a DMK man, " he thundered.

Dayanidhi's meteoric rise

I remember, in early 2004, just after the DMK had walked out of the NDA and before UPA was born, Dr Manmohan Singh had come to meet Karunanidhi at his Chennai residence to forge an alliance between the DMK and Congress. Standing next to Karunanidhi, clutching his hands was a shy translator - Dayanidhi Maran. His rise since then within the party has been nothing short of spectacular. Dayanidhi smoothly slid into the space vacated by his late father Murasoli Maran, Karunanidhi’s nephew. Though lesser in age and stature, it was on Dayanidhi's shoulder that the old Kalaignar depended on during public meetings. It was Dayanidhi who was chosen as a candidate in DMK's bastion, Central Madras constituency during the Parliamentary elections and it was Dayanidhi who was rewarded with a ministerial berth at the Centre, overlooking many seniors. Karunanidhi had made it clear that Daya was his favourite grandnephew.
Dayanidhi meteoric rise raised many eyebrows within the party and outside but no one dared to question his position. After all, he was part of the family and the inner coterie of Kalaignar. Those who did, like Sharat Kumar, actor and former MP, were thwarted and thrown out. You could not take on the Maran brothers especially when the DMK was in power. Or it seemed.

The real question - Stalin Vs Azhagiri

This is a question that Karunanidhi has warded off for many years. But it is clear that MK Stalin is heir apparent to the throne. Though he does not match his father in terms of charisma, stature or popularity, Stalin is the emperor in waiting. Stalin does not see eye to eye with his elder brother Azhagiri, who has always been the problem child in the family. Azhagiri runs a parallel government in Madurai irrespective of whichever party is in power. Much to Karunanidhi’s chagrin in the past, Azhagiri even engineered the defeat of DMK candidates in the local elections if they were not of his choice. He even has a criminal case against him for the murder of DMK leader T.Kirutinan. So the best Karunanidhi could do was the buy peace with him. Though Azhagiri does not hold a post in the party, all decisions about Madurai has his blessings. For several years, this peace treaty has worked for Karunanidhi. Now that the uncomfortable question that Kalaignar has hitherto kept under wraps is out in the open, will the Azhagiri-Stalin war resume again? Therefore, the fallout of the opinion poll does more damage to Karunanidhi than it does to the Marans or Azhagiri.

Where does it leave the Marans?

For anyone tracking Tamil Nadu politics, this is the missing piece in the puzzle. The Marans had it all going for themselves. Dayanidhi was basking in the glory of bringing investments to Tamil Nadu as the Telecom Minister. Kalanidhi’s media empire was growing at a furious pace. His Sun TV had gone public; he had expanded his grip from television to radio to the print medium. Why, the newspaper in question, Dinakaran, was acquired recently by Kalanidhi. It was relaunched at rock bottom price and was the fastest growing daily in the state. So why would they upset the applecart? There in lies the mystery of this case.

(Picture courtesy: The Hindu)