Defamation drama as DMK patriarch comes to Madras High Court

Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi’s personal appearance before the principal session judge may have more to it than meets the eye. When he was rolled in on his wheelchair into the High Court campus to make a rare personal appearance in the defamation case Monday, his intention may have been to communicate a message to his cadres that he is alive and kicking.

The effect of a dramatic move may have come to him from his earlier act in squatting before the Chennai Central prison after a midnight arrest a decade ago.

Ahead of a very crucial election for a nonagenarian, the old fox may have been driving the message that he was ready for the poll battle.

“The 2014 Lok Sabha poll was different. This is an Assembly election. We are facing it after two major defeats. Today’s personal appearance was just the beginning. You will see Kalaignar touring like in the past this election too,” a DMK functionary said.

“His target audience was more his party men. He wanted to tell his cadre that he still calls the shots in DMK and he will lead them into the 2016 Assembly polls,” was political commentator Aazhi Senthilnathan’s analysis. “Whether this is good or bad, he always likes the spotlight to be on him. Even in the rivalry between his sons, he likes to have the last word. He is just stamping his authority in the party,” he added.