Chennai: The obvious prediction would be the DMK would go gung ho over AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa’s conviction in the disproportionate case. Indeed there is something for the DMK to cheer about, but truth be told, Bangalore special court judge John Michael D’ Cunha has certainly cast a shadow over Anna Arivalayam too.
Karunanidhi’s stoic silence is easily understood from the fact that that his Rajya Sabha daughter Kanimozhi and party propaganda secretary A. Raja face verdict in the 2G case in some months. Add his grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran's inclusion in the Aircel-Maxis charge sheet; days are not far when a similar fate might stare at the DMK, which is struggling to recover from successive poll drubbings.
Read: Jayalalithaa verdict: No celebrations, orders DMK
However, Karuanidhi can take solace in the momentum the verdict had offered them, particularly when he tries to sew up a grand alliance with BJP's friends, MDMK and PMK for the 2016 Assembly polls. MDMK leader Vaiko's appearance in Kalaignar TV and public praise of Karunanidhi for TESO's black shirt protest has more to it than meets the eye.
PMK leader Dr Ramadoss did his bit to lift DMK hopes by dropping in at Gopalapuram and inviting Karunanidhi for his granddaughter's wedding. If that does not suffice skeptical minds, DMK treasurer M K Stalin's statement at Mupperum Vizha that his father would be party's chief ministerial candidate for 2016 should.
However, Karunanidhi has a lot to do if he were to put Saturday's verdict to good use. To start with, solve the wrangles in the DMK's first family, especially with his long waiting prince Stalin who is keen never like before to step into his shoes. Before that, the Karuna and company would have to go through a Cunha like judge in Patiala CBI court.
