Is DMK Karunanidhi's Sankara Mutt now?

Chennai: The DMK leader’s announcement of declaring his son M.K. Stalin as his political heir is not a surprise, but still the move is unacceptable in political circles, as other leaders raise questions over such ‘an undemocratic move’.

Stalin may have been projected as Karunanidhi’s heir for more than a decade, but the DMK leader had refrained from making an official announcement.  When the question was put to him a few years ago, he said the DMK is not a Sankara Mutt and the party’s general council and executive committee would decide on the party leadership.

But, in an interview to a Tamil magazine, Karunanidhi has officially declared Stalin as his political heir. The announcement has its harshest critics among the Communist parties which focus on collective leadership.

When asked about the declaration, CPM state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said “The DMK leader claims to be descendant of the self-respect movement. But, in such a movement, leadership should be decided on merit. There are many second rung leaders and such an announcement amounted to questioning their self-respect”.

The statement was very much expected and it is only an acceptance of the reality, said political commentator Gnani. “The DMK has come under the total control of Stalin many years ago. Karunanidhi’s declaration is only an expression of the real situation in the party. Karunanidhi does not have power in the DMK now and it is Stalin who controls the party now”.

However, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan denied the charges and said the criticisms is a result of lack of proper understanding of what the DMK leader said. Citing the interview, he said Karunanidhi had declared Stalin as his political heir and not as the DMK’s next leader.

The remarks only meant that Stalin would be in politics as the heir of Karunanidhi. The party’s executive committee and general council will make a decision on its leadership.

But, such committees are just a formality and the leaders could make the decisions they want, said CPI senior leader D. Pandian.“In both the DMK and AIADMK, the leaders take the decisions. It is often said the executive committee and general council are the bodies which take the decision. Often the general council and other committees, are convened to pass a resolution giving full powers for the leaders to decide on issues,” he said.

However, he added that discussing the subject would not be of any use as there is none in the DMK who question the undemocratic leadership.