Stalin: Fourth in party, first in line for throne

Even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi stoutly asserted that the DMK was a 8220;democratic party8221;

Even as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi stoutly asserted that the DMK was a 8220;democratic party8221; and that its leadership would not be decided by 8220;dynastic succession,8221; the Maran drama had all the ingredients of a bitter power struggle within the party8217;s first family. Now it is for all to realise that Dayanidhi Maran8217;s exit had everything to do with clearing Stalin8217;s path to succession of all hurdles.

Leading the party for the last 38 years, Karunanidhi took over as DMK President soon after C N Annadurai8217;s death in 1969. In the party hierarchy, K Anbazhagan, the general secretary, is next in command. A staunch Karunanidhi follower and a long time associate, Anbazhagan is among the many trusted loyalists and would willingly accept Stalin, his leader8217;s son, as the new chief.

No protests are expected even from party treasurer and Power Minister, Arcot N Veerasamy, who comes third in the hierarchy. Part of the inner coterie, Veerasamy, like Anbazhagan, has no reservations about accepting Stalin8217;s leadership when the time comes.

As the DMK8217;s deputy general secretary, Stalin is the fourth senior-most leader in the DMK and the powerful Local Administration Minister. Following organisational elections in June 2003, the DMK, while unanimously re-electing Karunanidhi as its president, also elevated Stalin to the post of deputy general secretary of the party, paving the way for him to take over the party reins.

Then Karunanidhi had claimed that Stalin8217;s promotion to deputy general secretary of the party was 8220;not a step towards succession,8221; but only 8220;an opportunity8221; given to the younger generation. But the elevation sent clear signals to the party rank and file that Stalin was the next successor. In fact, on that occasion, Anbazhagan declared that Stalin would indeed succeed Karunanidhi eventually.

8220;Stalin is the only mass leader after Karunanidhi. While C N Annadurai took over the party legacy from Periyar E V Ramasamy Naicker, Karunanidhi took over the reins from Annadurai. We think Stalin has a special place in the party,8221; Anbazhagan had stated then.