CHENNAI: DMK treasurer MK Stalin’s visit to Bihar to attend the swearing-in of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and meeting with national leaders marks a significant shift from the party’s earlier practice of having separate representatives for Delhi and Tamil Nadu.
Stalin’s move is said to have effectively sidelined his half-sister Kanimozhi, who was considered the party’s national face, indicating that the DMK is moving towards a single command for both the state and Delhi.
While in Patna, Stalin also met other leaders and commented about the formation of a broad secular alliance at the national level, signalling that he himself would decide on the party’s alliance choices and directly hold negotiations with national leaders.
His Bihar visit was prominently displayed by party organ Murasoli and the party’s news channel Kalaignar TV, a coverage that was never extended to Kanimozhi, despite she, a Rajya Sabha MP, being considered to be the party’s national face.
Now, Kanimozhi’s role is restricted to attending Parliament and representing the party in the meetings on Parliament proceedings. There is also a perception that Stalin considers Kanimozhi, accused in the 2G scam, a liability during election time and is consciously promoting himself as the lone voice of the DMK.
After Karunanidhi emerged as the party leader, ‘Murasoli’ Maran was the party’s voice in Delhi and he dealt with issues of alliance at the national level and the party’s relationship with other parties. Maran, who was elected from South Chennai after party founder CN Annadurai vacated the seat, carried out his Delhi role till his death.
Maran was instrumental in the formation of National Front, United Front and negotiated the DMK joining the BJP government of Vajpayee. Even after his demise, Karunanidhi did not directly deal with Delhi politics and former Union Minister TR Baalu handled the DMK’s dealings till Karunanidhi’s son MK Alagiri became the Union Minister.
After the 2009 Parliament elections, Kanimozhi was pushed to the national scene and was considered the party’s face in the national capital. Now, questions have emerged over her role in the party.
However, a DMK functionary said, “Too much should not be read into Stalin’s Bihar visit. Thalaivar and Thalapathi were invited to the swearing-in ceremony and Thalapathi went to Patna as Kalaignar’s representative. Kanimozhi’s role in Delhi will not be diminished by a single visit by Stalin.”