Is upset Karunanidhi trying to clip Stalin’s wings?

Unlike the comrades who had steamrolled detractors from outside and a few inside, M.K. Stalin is suffering silent mutiny within his family. And it is not just the usual culprit M.K. Alagiri, his estranged elder brother from Madurai, who time and again ‘tars’ him and discredits the DMK by making provocative statements, but his own party president-father M. Karunanidhi.

The nonagenarian’s Friday’s statement has enough to unsettle the DMK just when the party rank and file were starting to feel that Alagiri was a settled issue. Two points gleaned from Friday’s letter, which appeared to be addressed to Stalin more than cadres. First, Karunanidhi’s growing discomfort to Stalin’s rise and his intention to run for the CMO again. Second, using Alagiri as the pebble in Stalin’s shoes.

While comfortably recalling his 2012 statement on maintaining party discipline, the golden jubilee politician has conveniently ignored a subsequent statement he had issued on how Alagiri had predicted Stalin’s death to him personally on an unforgettable morning at Gopalapuram.

He did not stop with that. Karunanidhi’s intention to not make way for Stalin and run for the chief minister’s office again in 2016 was heard louder than his attempts to broker peace between the warring brothers.

The 93-year-old statesman laid equal emphasis on him being the party chief ministerial candidate for 2016 and recalling his elder son Alagiri who has been expelled from the party for violating discipline.

“He just did not advise brothers to make peace. He had also intended to convey that he is the boss and his writ runs large in the party,’’ said a party senior functionary requesting anonymity.

“Did you find a word critical of Alagiri in that? Everyone knows what Alagiri said before leaving for Hong Kong. But, thalaivar has specifically chosen to go soft on him. He was more keen on telling Stalin that he will run for CMO in 2016 than the two making peace,” said a former DMK minister who did not wish to be named.

“Kalaignar issued the statement shortly after the district secretaries of Madurai publicly dared Alagiri. Stalin has consolidated his base across the state. Most district secretaries, including southern districts, have rallied behind Stalin. This unsettled Kalaignar,” explained a district secretary from south.

“Whatever be the truth behind the recent survey, thalaivar could not stomach the fact that Stalin was growing beyond him,” the district secretary explained, wondering how will the party progress when the chief sends a feeler that he might accommodate Alagiri again ahead of election.

“What will become of the groundwork thalapathi had done so far? Thalaivar talks about his son and squabbling brothers, is this family or party? Thalapathi goes around the state to develop the party, but thalaivar pulls the plug. Thalaivar is the party’s undoing,” wondered another district secretary close to Stalin.