CHENNAI: The DMK on Sunday saw a familiar script play out. The party’s heir-apparent M K Stalin, who virtually seized control of the party just months ago, tendered his resignation from all party posts, owning moral responsibility for the party’s disastrous performance in the Lok Sabha election. However, hours later, his father and party patriarch M Karunanidhi rejected the resignation on the ground that the party needed Stalin’s services.
After news of Stalin’s offer to quit emerged late in the morning, party leaders went into a huddle, with Karunanidhi meeting senior leaders like Durai Murugan, S Jagatrakshagan, E V Velu and Ponmudy. Stalin supporters also made the most of the attention, and staged a demonstration outside Karunanidhi’s house, demanding that the resignation be rejected.
Durai Murugan addressed the media later in the evening at Stalin’s residence. “Stalin has offered to resign. Our leader has said this is not the need of the hour and that the party needs his services. So, Stalin has agreed not to insist on his resignation,” said Durai Murugan.
Stalin’s offer to step down caught even his staunchest loyalists by surprise, and many headed to his residence as soon as they heard about it. “He didn’t discuss it with us. We would have prevented him. I heard of his resignation just minutes back and am rushing to speak to him in person,” said an MLA, considered a long-time Stalin loyalist.