While DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin refused to attach any importance to the survey that had given him ratings over DMK leader M. Karunanidhi for the Chief Minister's post, party seniors feel that the study has proved that the general public also has acknowledged him as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate.
“We do not run politics by relying on poll predictions. In the past, such surveys have gone against many political parties including the DMK. We will continue to do party work and I cannot answer speculative questions,” said Mr. Stalin, reacting to the survey.
A senior leader explained that the survey was unlikely to create any misunderstanding between father and son because it was Mr. Karunanidhi who had time and again stated that Mr. Stalin would assume the mantle of leadership after him.
“The votes for Mr. Stalin and Mr. Karunanidhi are the votes for the DMK. It would have been wrong if the pollsters had gone to the people with the names of leaders to identify their choice for the Chief Minister's post,” said a party MP.
He said since it was an open question posed to respondents, it showed that the DMK had greater acceptance.
“The DMK is not a party that is under any compulsion to project one individual or another as the Chief Ministerial candidate. We will go to the polls with concrete proposals and schemes," he said.
As far as Mr. Stalin was concerned, so far only in the party circles was he seen as the Chief Minister waiting in the wings. “He controls the party organisation and his popularity so far confined to the party has now gone beyond that and people also see him as the Chief Ministerial candidate,” he argued.
Karunanidhi has made it clear that Stalin would assume the mantle of leadership after him
