Ahead of 2021 elections, DMK prez may launch ‘Namakku Naamey 2.0’ after Assembly session

However, the biggest challenge to Stalin’s tour planners, understandably, would be COVID-19. Though there are no travel restrictions, the DMK chief could be facing difficulty in meeting people in large numbers.

Stalin plans to compensate the confinement during lockdown by meeting the voters and cadre. “There is no bar to his meeting cadre and party functionaries in any part of the state. But, the real problem is the voters. We cannot mobilize or meet people in a few hundred like he did during namakku naamey. Even if we are permitted to gather people, we don’t know how forthcoming people would be to gather or meet visiting party men,” said a DMK insider.

“He was waiting for the Assembly session to get over. An announcement could be made any moment by the high command. To begin with, he might visit party functionaries in each district and meet people enroute,” he added. Surprisingly, Stalin could encounter another trouble during the tour – his son Udhayanidhi Stalin.

The DMK youth wing secretary was also understood to have planned a similar tour. Udhay’s PR team is believed to be planning his tour, which would negate whatever Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee) has been planning for the party. “PK does is strictly opposed to promoting the junior ahead of the Assembly election. I-PAC is planning to jack up Stalin’s image further. Now, son’s tour would blunt the image building directly,” said the party source who did not wish to be named.

Meanwhile, Stalin has launched an online membership drive which seeks to enroll 25 lakh people in less than two months. At least one lakh party workers would be involved in the online membership drive, which would be the first of its kind in DMK history.