DMK working president M K Stalin on Saturday emerged from the shadows to host a get together of anti-BJP parties across the national political spectrum in Chennai to mark the 94th birthday celebrations of his father and party icon M Karunanidhi. By inviting Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi home and bonding with him, he showed confidence in building mutual chemistry and strengthening his alliance with the national party. But the biggest takeaway for him was the endorsement he got from a galaxy of national leaders who urged him to step into his illustrious father’s shoes. He managed to position himself as a go-getter and a leader of substance willing to contribute to building an Opposition front at the national level.
This was not the Stalin the state knew even a few months ago. Till then he had appeared content consolidating his position at the apex of his party’s hierarchy and being a regional player. His biggest ambition seemed to be to become the chief minister at least once in his lifetime, which eluded him since Karunanidhi refused to yield during his tenure as CM between 2006 and 2011. He didn’t seem to have an appetite for influencing the national discourse as he gave the BJP a kid glove treatment.
He changed tack when he found the BJP helping the AIADMK government, which he had hoped would disintegrate after the demise of J Jayalilathaa. With the local body polls around the corner and to create a ‘Mahagathbandan’ to be prepared for any eventuality in the state, he tried to draw the Left parties by using Modi bashing as his lodestone.
On Saturday, he took the criticism to a new level, warning the Centre not to force another Independence struggle. “People say they are ready. We are also prepared for it,” he thundered. Yet the impression remains that Stalin is only milking his dad’s goodwill. Would he be able to take a quantum jump and become a formidable player in his own right? Only time can tell.