Wisdom comes with age, they say. For octogenarian Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi—perhaps, the wisest of politicians—pathos comes with age. His announcements in recent months, layered with liberal doses of sentiments, have never failed to strike an emotional chord with the DMK cadres. Participating in an Arunthathiyar community conference on December 6, Karunanidhi said he would retire from active politics in mid-2010 after achieving certain ambitions, which include the convoking of a Tamil classical conference (a global meet of Tamil scholars).
The announcement is significant as the state is preparing for the 2011 assembly elections. The announcement has baffled cadres. But Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said his father would not quit. Senior party leaders say the patriarch might just be testing the waters before handing the baton to Stalin. "Stalin is the main campaigner for the byelections in Tiruchendur and Vandavasi Assembly seats. So our leader perhaps wants him to handle the next elections alone," said a senior DMK leader.
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But some party leaders doubt Stalin's ability to take on AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa single-handedly. "It might be an advantage to the AIADMK if Kalaignar steps down. We need to come back to power and that is not possible without his leadership. He would rather wait for the elections to be over for his son to take over," said a former DMK minister. Sources in the party say it is uncharacteristic of Karunanidhi to make such announcements unless he is faced with problems. "He had once threatened to resign when there was a tussle in the family. Now his elder son M.K. Azhagiri is unhappy in Delhi and wants to return to Tamil Nadu. He might pose a problem to Stalin's leadership. We understand there could be other problems in the family, too," said a party leader.
Karunanidhi had publicly hinted at retirement in 2001 when he declared that it would perhaps be his last election. This time, too, the cadres hope the family would persuade him to continue.
(The article first appeared in THE WEEK on January 3, 2010)