CHENNAI: When the MLAs of the DMK met last week at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam, first time after the election results were announced last month, very few had imagined that something unexpected was going to happen. Breaking traditions of decades, senior party leader M K Stalin presided over the meeting, in place of his father and party chief M Karunanidhi.
Looking confident in his new role, Stalin gave lessons to the newly elected members on how to prepare for House debates and raise questions. He also directed the senior leaders to handhold the rookies.
“This indeed was Stalin’s victory,” said party veteran S Madhavan. Stalin moved closely with the people during his months-long outreach programme, Namukku Naame, which helped the party in the state elections, Madhavan added.
“Inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Stalin will perform as good as his father,” said Dravidar Kazhagam V-P Kali Poongudran, who has assured to play the role of the Opposition.
Recalling how Karunanidhi used to raise issues in the House when he was the deputy leader of Opposition in his young years, Dravidian scholar K Thirunavukarasu said, “Stalin has a softer approach, but knows how to perform.”
Sources said there is a stark difference in the way the two leaders operate. Stalin began like his father, controlling the party through the powerful district secretaries. He trusted their recommendations during the last Lok Sabha elections. But when the DMK scored nought, everything changed.
Before the last Assembly polls, the district secretaries were not permitted to take part in the selection of candidates. Ticket aspirants’ background was checked by an independent agency that reported to Stalin’s inner team. He now controls much of the party apparatus, and what he controls, he does without much space for dissent, debate or even discussion. Sources said he is more presidential now, both in ideation and execution—much like the AIADMK.