Chennai: In getting unanimously elected as party president for the 11th consecutive time in the 14th general council, DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Friday showed his party treasurer-son Stalin who the real boss is (in the party). Also, Karunanidhi demonstrated in a balancing act that he was as good a father as party president who accommodates all.
By confining Stalin to the treasurer’s office, contrary to cadres’ expectation and elevating his Rajya Sabha MP-daughter Kanimozhi to the office of party’s women’s wing secretary, (as predicted by DC Friday morning) Karunanidhi has also proved that, even at 91, he calls the shots.
The nonagenarian’s balancing act was obvious in him promoting disgruntled Durai Murugan, who was upset over his son being denied district secretary ticket, to the post of principal headquarters secretary, the fourth rank in the party hierarchy. The father in Karunanidhi really got the better of the party president with him gifting an elevation to his 2G-tainted daughter Kanimozhi. “This movement (party) will not give up on anyone.
It will stand by all and give life to all. Let us consider everyone as a member of the family,” the DMK president said, apparently referring to the cold war among his children that cost the party dearly. However, it was the DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan who set the tone for his peer Karunanidhi by asserting that Karunanidhi was the chief and none other than him could occupy the president's chair.
"Stalin will be future leader. He will be the leader in the future," the 93-year-old general secretary said, much to the chagrin of Stalin loyalists, who perceived it as an indication of the adamant nonagenarians refusing to make way for Stalin who rejuvenated the party by doubling district units to 65 and inducting new faces in to the organisation.
