R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, DEC 14
Dynasty politics is not a new phenomenon in Indian politics in general and Tamil Nadu in particular. With this motive, politicians groom their siblings so as they remain as power centres like backseat drivers.
The Emergency of 1975 had brought to the fore the political acumen of young Stalin. It was also the right launching pad for him in Tamil Nadu politics. DMK being a cadre based party Stalin commenced his political journey like a grassroot worker and was not given any special treatment. His growth was slow but steady in the political horizon of Tamil Nadu.
Stalin had undergone many a trials and tribulations to prove his mettle. Through his dedication and hard work he rose to become the Youth Wing Secretary of DMK after two decades. Later on he became the Mayor of Chennai, a challenging task but this was the concrete foundation for his career graph growth. True to the golden words of former TN CM and DMK founder Dr CN Annadurai that “Maatran thottathu malligaiyum manakkkum (jasmine grown in others garden will also have fragrance)”, Stalin learnt to get along with the Opposition party and the IAS officials and succeeded in transforming Singara Chennai as one of the best capital cities of the country.
After proving his mettle as an able administrator, he became MLA and finally as deputy chief minister to help his ailing father and former CM Dr Kalaingar M Karunanidhi.
The death of his father has burdened him with the responsibility of leading the DMK and keeping the flocks together despite remaining out of power. By making a clean sweep in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls despite the onslaught of Lotus wave in the country and bouncing back to St George Fort with overwhelming majority in 2021 Assembly polls, Stalin has proved that he is the 21st Century Chanakya of Indian politics.
What astonished the political pundits is that he has metamorphosed into a go-getter. First, he handpicked many a gems like Dr V Iraianbu, IAS and banker-turned-politician PTR as finance minister to implement his vision of taking forward Tamil Nadu in all spheres. Secondly, CM Stalin gives due respect to the elected representatives of Opposition parties by giving them a chance to air their views and also in taking various developmental initiatives.
By deftly handling the coronavirus pandemic and the flood situation MK Stalin has shown that one should rise above politics in resolving the grievances of the citizens.
According to senior journalists, Stalin has been working hard to deliver a clean and good administration as first time CM. This in turn will make it easy for the second-line leadership both in the party and the government to continue this legacy.
As of now Stalin is in no mood to coronate his son, DMK’s Youth Wing Secretary, Udhayanidhi Stalin, Chepauk-Triplicane MLA. On the contrary Stalin wants to put an end to all speculations over Udhayanidhi Stalin’s innings in the government as of now. Our sources have said that Stalin will hand over the baton to Udhayanidhi in his second innings as CM in 2024. By that time prince charming will be ready to take over the mantle without any resistance from any quarter. However, there are talks that Tamil Nadu may see him as a Minister around next May or June, after MK Stalin’s one year in the office.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Agriculture Wing General Secretary RS Rajan has written a letter to Chief Minister MK Stalin to appoint Udhayanidhi Stalin for the coveted post of the Deputy Chief Minister, a post which MK Stalin has held under his father Karunanidhi’s regime.
The reports say that the state Congress unit hasn’t immediately reacted to the letter from the Congress leader to the Chief Minister.
It is pertinent to note that the demand for elevating Udhayanidhi Stalin is not new and will keep pouring in the future.
Speaking at Udhayanidhi’s birthday bash, his friend and Tamil Nadu Minister of School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, has said that Udhayanidhi must become a minister as his dedication to serving people shouldn’t be contained to a particular constituency and it must reach the whole state. The demand from the DMK Minister has come when celebrating Udhayanidhi’s birthday.
He said, “Udhayanidhi should get a post that will be celebrated by all the 234 constituencies.”
