Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Dynastic politics in Tamil Nadu' that was published in Newsband

Dynastic politics in Tamil Nadu

As DMK president, Stalin has no challengers from within in winning the political legacy of his father M. Karunanidhi. The undisputed leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, M.K. Stalin faced the greatest challenge from within his immediate family than from the wider party organisation. Stalin also needed to beat back the challenge from his elder brother, M.K. Alagiri. Alagiri had been expelled from the party in 2014 on the suggestion of Karunanidhi himself. Alagiri is putting up a fight from outside the party. He is politically isolated now. Unless Stalin leads the DMK to successive electoral defeats, Alagiri cannot hope to win back any support within the party.

For Stalin, the real worry is not his brother but his political opponents. The election that matters most for him, the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, is not due for another three years. Stalin must be hoping that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government of Edappadi K. Palaniswami will not survive that long, The entry of film actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth into electoral politics has introduced new variables into the political mix.

Stalin will need to reinvent himself and the DMK. Sons succeeding fathers as political leaders, and that also unopposed, is not good for demicracy. Unless Azhagiri and Kanimozhi unite and float a party, there is no scope for the former in political arena. By outwitting his elder brother, Stalin has shown that he has learnt the tricks of the trade fairly well. The big question is whether he will use this to earn the support of the people of Tamil Nadu by instigating programmes that will benefit the common man, or whether he will use his Machiavellian expertise to amass personal wealth. Only time will tell.

The fact that this is yet another dynastic fight does not augur well for the people of Tamil Nadu. The people of Tamil Nadu, like those in other parts of India appear to believe in modern versions of Kings and Queens ruling the state. A pathetic situation.

It may be too early to conclude that there is no challenge to Stalin. Discontent is brewing and may pose future obstacles. The other son Allagiri is waiting to bid his claim. It is not appropriating the legacy but appropriating the family business. The media unfortunately allows this kind of family political companies to flourish instead of condemning the lack of democratic space in these parties.

If one looks at the Tamil Nadu political scenario pragmatically, there is no real challenge facing Stalin's ascent to power as its next CM. However, for him to retain power, it will be essential for him to break away from the past political processes of patronage and drive towards corruption-free government focused on rapid social, scientific and economic development, setting aside old political red herrings of caste and religious questions, to bring Tamil Nadu into the 21st century comity of civilized communities.He will feel disruptive pressures from Delhi, and elsewhere.

DMK reached the top, although the group was split into a formidable AIADMK under MG Ramachandran (MGR) that continued to have sway in TN during Jaya's period, through Tamil and Dravida sentiments. Karuna Nidhi played with his deft hands, mainly oratory skills and one-upmanship in Political maneuvering. Today the situations and challenges are different: Jobs to young people; Industrial and Agricultural development; affordable housing; affordable medical support and social inequality - these are prime matters that need attention of any Political party, and if Stalin is able to lead his group on even just one of those problem-solutions, he could be the next BIG Tamil Nadu leader. Or else, he would simply be another also-ran Leader like a Vaiko/ Ramdos/Mooppnar etc. The TN cauldron is hotting up.

The challenges before Stalin are bigger than what his father faced in his long political journey. The chief among them is to maintain the firm hold his father kept till the end on the party and the rock solid support he commanded from the cadres. The squabbles within the family are only likely to increase instead of abatement. Much depends on the outcome of the ongoing cases against Maran brothers and Kanimozhi. He should be able to quickly overcome the impending surprises and shocks. The lacklustre performance of the state government should create a tailwind for Comrade Stalin.