Chennai: DMK's crucial general council meeting widely expected to decide on the elevation of party treasurer M.K. Stalin to the post of working president and key posts for his supporters in the party will be held on December 20.
Party general secretary K.Anbazhagan on Saturday announced that the meeting would be presided over by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. The announcement comes after successive meetings between Karunanidhi with elder son M.K. Alagiri and Stalin.
This is the first meeting after the demise of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and the party is certain to discuss the changed circumstances in state politics after its arch rival AIADMK had lost is charismatic leader with a wide mass appeal cutting across all sections of people.
The party with 89 MLAs in the Assembly will have to chalk out its strategy inside the Assembly as well as outside, to mobilise people against the ruling party. The general council also meets for the first time after the 2016 Assembly elections.
Though, 93-year-old party leader Karunanidhi continues to be active, his speech is not clear, despite his statements showing the same clarity and wit, proving that his mental faculties remain the same.
But, Stalin is active in fieldwork and his new style 'Namakku Naamey' campaign is said to have played a major role in DMK's impressive performance in the Assembly elections. He has assumed the leadership of the party in the Assembly and continues to be the face of the DMK.
Most of the senior leaders and district satraps are pitching for a key post for Stalin and some of his followers want themselves to be elevated to state-wide posts. DMK principal secretary K. Duraimurugan, speaking at the centenary celebrations of Justice Party had asserted that Stalin should be the leader of the party, setting the stage for key changes in the party.
Stalin's elevation to a higher post will also pave the way for some of the senior leaders to move up the ladder as the treasurer post will be vacant. Besides, party general secretary K. Anbazhagan, who is older than Karunanidhi, is also not in the thick of party activities. Some of Stalin's trusted satraps are stagnating at district posts for a long time, finding it hard to get into state level positions.
Alagiri, who was expelled before the 2014 Parliament elections, has got back into the family and into the good books of Karunanidhi. His frequent meetings with the party leader has also raised speculations of his re-entry into the party and a possible post. But, there are no indications of Stalin giving his nod for his elder brother's entry as he is determined to preserve unity of command in the party.
The general council too is packed with Stalin's supporters and it will not be easy for Karunanidhi to bring back Alagiri into the fold without Stalin’s consent.
