Chennai: DMK chief M. Karunanidhi has ended speculation about his health by touring around the State to campaign for the party and declared in a TV interview he would become the
Chief Minister again, in an obvious message to voters that it would be the usual fight between him and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa for the seventh consecutive time.
Rather than being a message to Stalin or his supporters, the DMK patriarch seems to be carrying a message to voters that the DMK has a strong Chief Ministerial candidate in him to take on the charismatic Jayalalithaa and they could trust him to rule the State again.
A section of DMK senior leaders feel that is would be risky to field DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin against a strong leader like Jayalalithaa and voters would trust the DMK only if the 27-year-old political rivalry is continued for this elections, considering the stakes for DMK, which could face a tough time, if it lost to AIADMK in consecutive Assembly elections.
People of the state are used to the battle between the two leaders since 1989 when Jayalalithaa led a faction of AIADMK and emerged as the opposition leader.
A sudden discontinuation of the status quo battle could jolt voters who may think twice about supporting the party, if a new leader is pitted against an established AIADMK supremo.
However, party leaders declined to comment on the choice of Karunanidhi for Chief Minister, instead of fielding Stalin, who is working hard for the party’s victory. A functionary said, “The question of choosing between Thalaivar and Thalapathy does not arise. Karunanidhi is the party leader and he is also the Chief Ministerial candidate and Stalin has accepted it. Raising such questions are an attempt to create an impression there are differences in the party.
Declaration of Kalaignar as Chief Minister does not mean that Stalin cannot take on Jayalalithaa”. Political analyst Govi. Lenin said there was no need for DMK to anoint Stalin as Chief Minister now and Karunanidhi has the capability to
defeat AIADMK. “Karunanidhi’s is healthy, he is campaigning in a vehicle, addressing public meetings and staying at different places during his campaign. His memory is sharp. Even if Karunanidhi becomes Chief Minister, Stalin will be deputy CM and carry out administrative works.”
