Karunanidhi stalls Stalin era as the legacy drama rolls on

Muthuvel Karunanidhi hopes to celebrate his 93rd birthday on June 3 as chief minister, yet again, of Tamil Nadu. That is if his Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) wins the May 16 election and forms government. While it is still an uncertainty, Kalaignar, as he is referred to reverentially, is determined to be chief minister allowing 63-year-old MK Stalin, his third son, waiting in the wings, to play second fiddle. "If he has to get a chance Nature has to do something to me," asserts Karunanidhi, who not only nurtures the thought of becoming chief minister a sixth time but go on to earn the coveted distinction of serving in that office longer than anyone in the country, bettering the record of West Bengal's Jyoti Basu, if he goes on to complete the five year term to record unparalleled history.

Also read: Karunanidhi, the man who brought down the Congress in Tamil Nadu

While it is wishful thinking, at this stage, what is abundantly clear is Kalaignar does not want to yield ground. "Stalin does not want to become Chief Minister. He wants the DMK President to become Chief Minister," is how he explains his desire relying on the customary style of subterfuge to avoid offering a direct response. The DMK will endorse it given his iconic status in steering the party while Karunanidhi's family puts off the succession struggle, as he puts it, "until Nature does something to me."

Post-Nature's call, succession plans are going to be neither simple nor easy though Stalin appears the chosen one who has also toiled hard - more than any of the four sons and two daughters of Karunanidhi - for the party. While second son, MK Azhagiri, 65, is certain to give Stalin a run for his money, the younger daughter M Kanimozhi, 48, now a Rajya Sabha member, and a grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran, 49, former union communications minister, who is besides Karunanidhi and turning the pages during his speeches at election rallies, are poised to emerge as influential power centres within the party. But the emerging drama will not be a four cornered fracas.

What is most likely is a faceoff between Stalin and Azhagiri though, at the moment, Stalin has the upper hand. He has earlier experience in governance, including the tenure as deputy chief minister working with his father, when he was chief minister last between 2006 and 2011. Other advantages: he holds the purse strings as Treasurer of a cash rich party and has his ears to the ground having completed the extensive Nammaku Naame tour of the state assessing ground realities and sensing the aspirations of the people. Analysts say it will be wiser for the DMK and its leadership to let the reins vest with Stalin viewing the long term perspective and the need to resurrect the party that once boasted of activists being present at its headquarters round the clock.

Madurai based Azhagiri, though expelled from the DMK for anti - party activities, is a strongman in the southern districts of the state and is resourceful to rally support in a big way when needed. The latest indicator will be the outcome of the assembly polls in these districts when it will be known whether he has worked for or against DMK contestants. But the lack of pan - Tamil Nadu support which Stalin enjoys and a reputation for flexing muscles to have his way are Azhagiri's inherent constraints in emerging as a more acceptable aspirant than his younger brother. However, that will not deter him from making the succession struggle a bitter fight having once said defiantly that the DMK is not a religious entity where the senior pontiff could appoint a successor.

In such a piquant situation between warring brothers, Kanimozhi who is also eyeing the legacy and seeking its control may try to emerge as a compromise. And Dayanidhi, as well as the other elder Maran brother, Kalanithi, 51, will remain content playing negotiators and peacemakers persuading the claimants to the Karunanidhi legacy appreciate that the buck stops here - with Stalin - if the DMK is not to be pushed into the pages of history.