The announcement by actor Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of DMK working president M.K. Stalin and grandson of party president M. Karunanidhi, that he is entering “active politics” has revived the charge that the Dravidian major was perpetuating dynastic politics. While the actor’s supporters disagree contending that he was competent to use the DMK platform for his political journey, critics of the party are scathing in their attack.
Mr. Udhayanidhi had on Saturday led a party protest against the hike in bus fare at Tambaram indicating that he was ready to take on a larger responsibility in the DMK.
“This cannot be seen as dynasty politics. Mr. Udhayanidhi has already said he would work with the cadre and work for the people; and when it comes to giving posts, the party leadership would take a decision,” DMK media relations’ joint secretary Tamilan Prasanna said.
Mr. Udhayanidhi’s entry into politics was only indicative that several youth were taking interest in politics and were drawn to work for the people along with the party, he claimed.
However, a senior leader in the party said: “It is a fact that senior leaders are being sidelined. Moreover, his entry would not be taken easily by the grass-root workers who have been working hard.”
‘Political fodder’
While “several qualified and experienced leaders were still waiting for a chance to prove their talent,” the party promoting Mr. Stalin’s son would only discourage senior leaders, and no doubt would provide fodder to the DMK’s political opponents,” he said, requesting anonymity.
When asked for a comment, Dravida Iyakka Thamizhar Peravai’s general secretary Suba Veerapandian, a known sympathiser of the DMK, said that it was an internal decision of the party. “If at all anyone has to worry about it, it should be the party workers and not other parties or outsiders.” Questions on whether it was dynasty politics should be seen only as “attempts to divert” the party from its goals, he contended.
Thamizharuvi Manian, founder of Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam, felt that Mr. Udhayanidhi’s political entry was only vaarisu arasiyal (hereditary politics), which was worse than kudumba arasiyal (family politics).
“Similar thing happened when former Chief Minister MGR was becoming famous. Fan clubs were opened for Mr. Karunanidhi’s eldest son M.K. Muthu to project him as a leader, but the attempt failed. Now, they are doing the same thing,” he added.
