: Bitter rivalry between the leaders of the two Dravidian parties was a political constant in Tamil Nadu for decades. On Monday, there was hope in the air that a new culture was emerging. But soon, the hopes were dashed.
The controversy on Monday centred around the seating position of DMK treasurer M. K. Stalin during the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. He was seated in the back rows, since he was not allotted a front-row seat. However, he sat right through the event, surrounded by other party colleagues and ministers.
If fact, he later tweeted, “Hope that she fulfils her election promises and works hard for the people of TN. Wish her the best.”
But party leader M. Karunanidhi was aghast at the treatment meted out to his son Stalin and other MLAs at the ceremony.
“She has wantonly humiliated the DMK which has 89 members. Mr. Stalin and others were not given due respect, but R. Sarathkumar, defeated in the election, was seated in the first row. This shows Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has not changed and will not change. Only the people of Tamil Nadu should change,” he said in a statement.
In a State where political differences usually descend into personal animosity, what happened on Monday may not come as a surprise. In the past, both the DMK and the AIADMK have had avoided attending each other’s investiture ceremonies.
The only exception in recent times was in 2001 when DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan and treasurer M.K. Stalin attended the event.
Even then, the failure on the part of the state government to make proper seating arrangements evoked criticism.
“Political decency demands proper respect for opposition members,” said Dravidian historian K. Thirunavukkarasu, recalling how DMK founder C.N. Annadurai buried his political differences and personally visited Rajaji, Periyar, Kamaraj, M. Bhaktavatsalam and sought their blessing after the DMK’s victory in 1967.
Former Chief Minister M. Bhaktavatsalam attended the swearing-in-ceremony of M.G. Ramachandran and his cabinet colleagues in 1980.
R. Kannan, biographer of Anna, said despite all that had happened between them, both Karunanidhi and MGR appeared to possess lot of respect for each other.
“Over a quarter century of a common struggle clearly bound them together. Thus, in the Assembly, even when they exchanged barbs and criticism, it was cultured and nuanced,” said Mr. Kannan.
On one occasion, Kalaignar said, “Power is not new to us. You are only tasting what we have eaten and left behind.”
MGR’s repartee was quick. “Yes. We have been voted to power to see how much you have eaten.”
The bonhomie between the two leaders was questioned by some DMK leaders and in a public meeting in Neyveli, Nellikuppam Krishnamurthy, a former DMK MP and an MLA, wondered whether they were planning a merger of the two parties.
Mr. Kannan said Karunanidhi gave a lengthy explanation citing tradition and the excellent relationship that existed between Periyar and Rajaji, Kamaraj and Anna, and the camaraderie seen between some of his own partymen and those from the treasury benches.
“He said that their meetings in the Assembly or at the Speaker’s office was to discuss Assembly proceedings and not ‘to look into the almanac for a date for the merger of the DMK and the AIADMK,’’’ he said.
Jayalalithaa has deliberately insulted DMK which has 89 members, says Karunanidhi
