Don’t fall at my feet: Stalin

While an ailing Karunanidhi was largely content with Veermani’s Dravidar Kazhagam, Stalin has attempted to build bridges with almost all parties with DK roots. Stalin had hosted Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) leaders Kolathur Mani and K Rajendran at Gopalapuram, the same leaders were ‘overlooked’ by Karunanidhi despite they volunteering to support in 2006 Assembly elections. 

While the obvious reason for the invitation may have been to ‘annoy’ Veeramani for his overwhelming  support to VK Sasikala’s rise to the helm of AIADMK recently, the political undertone suggests that new DMK chief may be consolidating the various Dravidian movements, possibly to counter the challenge from the saffron brigade which has been breathing down the neck of the AIADMK since its leader J Jayalalithaa’s demise. 

It may be difficult to question this proposition given the strong pro-Dravidian political narrative of Stalin since taking over the reins from Karunanidhi on Wednesday. Whether it was his visit to Periyar memorial or maiden letter extensively invoking the Dravidian ideology of Periyar to the cadre or the statement dissuading his cadre not to prostrate before him on Saturday, the Leader of Opposition has tried to establish his Periyarist connection. 

Echoing similar views, political science professor Ramu Manivannan of Madras University says, “Stalin is sending a clear message that between Veeramani and Kolathur Mani, he is choosing the latter because his movement is more on the ground and active, compared to Veeramani’s DK, which is more an institution that collaborates with the power than working on issues on the ground. That Veeramani had given an acknowledgement to Sasikala, may not have gone well with Stalin.” 

“Stalin is choosing the language of the Dravidian movement because he might be foreseeing the potential challenge from BJP, which is waiting in the wings to emerge as a force once the AIADMK becomes weaker in future. Stalin is building the infrastructure for a future struggle,” he added. 

Notably, even DMK seniors who admitted that Stalin has a strong association also with the BJP ranks, reasoned that the future of the party and its rationalist ideology were intertwined and even a minor compromise with the ideology would open the political space to their political and ideological opponents from the north, particularly the BJP.