Chennai: M.K. Stalin was on Tuesday elected, unanimously, as the president of the DMK, taking over the reins of the state’s main opposition party that his father M. Karunanidhi had led unchallenged for about five decades. Not a mention, not even a whisper, was heard in the packed general council session at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, about the 'robust' challenge thrown by his elder brother Alagiri to his leadership.
The elevation of Stalin from the position of the party’s working president, which was given to him by Karunanidhi early January last year when his health started its downslide, was announced by DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan, who said the election was unopposed as no one else had filed nomination. Same was the case in the election of party senior Durai Murugan as the treasurer.
In his acceptance speech, Stalin exhorted the party cadres to join him in teach a lesson to the BJP Government at the Centre, accusing it of saffronising the country. “The Narendra Modi government is trying to paint the nation in saffron colour. Let us teach it a lesson', he said.
DMK’s general secretary K. Anbazhagan greets M.K. Stalin. (Image: DC)
Stalin's attack on the BJP could well mean an end to the speculation if the DMK was cosying up to the saffron party and all those recent happenings that caused big excitement pointing to such alliance could well be just 'political courtesies'-events such as PM Modi flying down to pay last respects to Karunanidhi at Rajaji Hall on August 7 and earlier, President Ramnath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visiting the hospital when DMK patriarch was critical. DMK leaders Stalin, Kanimozhi and some others had gone to Delhi to pay homage to Atal Behari Vajpayee. Also, the Centre declaring national mourning as a mark of respect for Karunanidhi and according state funeral, besides adjournment of both Houses of Parliament were all seen as signs of the two rivals edging close as the BJP badly needs a strong ally in Dravidian Tamil Nadu as it prepares for the crucial Lok Sabha poll next year.
In his maiden speech before the DMK general council, Stalin attacked the AIADMK too, calling it a spineless outfit that must be “thrown out”. In the campaign against the 'saffron' Centre and the 'spineless' regime in TN, he said he would march alongside his party cadre, rather than announcing he would lead and they must follow. And they could question him if he made any mistake. That was perhaps his way of telling the cadres that he would adopt a new inclusive approach to his new role as their thalaivar.
Saying he has a dream of a beautiful future for TN, he said, “Let us realise this dream of a beautiful future together….let us march together” and work for the good of the state and its people “instead of selfish purposes”.
“The realisation of this dream begins this very moment. Let this change begin from us. The Stalin that you see and hear today has been born anew”, he said, his voice often choking with emotion.
While making it clear that the DMK would stay with its Dravidian and rationalist ideals, Stalin said, “We will however respect all the beliefs of others even if we do not have faith (in them). We are not those who oppose God”.
Emulating his father's style of beginning his address to the cadres, Stalin started his 25-minute speech with the words, 'En uyirinum melana kalaignarin anbu udanpirappugaley' - translated: 'my dear brothers of Kalaignar, you are more important to me than my life).
“I am not Kalaignar, I do not know how to talk like him. But I have the courage to give a try to everything”, he said as he began his ‘president’s oration’.
