DMK president MK Stalin appears to be facing a fresh power struggle within his own family, with tensions reportedly resurfacing between his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and his son-in-law V Sabareesan.
According to a report published by Junior Vikatan, the dispute centres on the role of People Empowerment Network (PEN), a political consultancy associated with Sabareesan, and the DMK leadership’s reported decision to once again rely on the organisation for party restructuring.
The development is significant because Udhayanidhi had reportedly pushed for Sabareesan and PEN to be sidelined following the DMK’s electoral setback.
The latest developments, however, suggest that Sabareesan is once again gaining access to the party’s internal decision-making, leaving Stalin caught between his son and son-in-law.
Udhayanidhi Wanted Sabareesan Sidelined
The friction reportedly intensified after the DMK’s electoral defeat.
As part of its exercise to examine the reasons behind the defeat, Stalin had constituted a committee to visit districts and seek feedback from party functionaries. Party workers and the public were also invited to submit their views through an online platform.
According to Junior Vikatan, several district secretaries and party functionaries reportedly blamed PEN for the party’s electoral problems.
The complaints allegedly included accusations that PEN had imposed unnecessary electoral strategies, provided incorrect information to the leadership and played a role in candidate selection.
Some functionaries reportedly even submitted their complaints in writing.
It was against this backdrop that Udhayanidhi is said to have objected strongly to PEN’s continued role within the party.
According to the report, Udhayanidhi allegedly told Stalin that PEN had caused several problems, including allegedly collecting money from party functionaries and providing misleading information to the leadership. He reportedly wanted the organisation dismantled.
The report further claims that the relative of a district secretary, who was allegedly involved in irregularities, was removed from PEN following Udhayanidhi’s complaints.
PEN Was Sabareesan’s Route Into The Party Organisation
Populous Empowerment Network (PEN) was reportedly founded by Sabareesan in 2022.
Initially involved primarily in media coordination, the organisation gradually expanded its role, according to the report, becoming involved in monitoring party functionaries, electoral strategy and candidate selection.
After the DMK-led alliance’s sweeping victory in all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu in 2024, Sabareesan’s influence within the party reportedly grew significantly.
The organisation allegedly became an important channel through which political data, electoral assessments and organisational inputs reached the DMK leadership.
This growing influence reportedly became a source of friction within the Stalin family.
Udhayanidhi’s Objections To Sabareesan’s Growing Influence
The question of who controls the party’s organisational machinery has reportedly been at the centre of tensions between Udhayanidhi and Sabareesan.
The DMK has historically seen different family members and political networks exercise influence, but former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was known to prevent any power centre from becoming strong enough to overshadow his sons, M.K. Stalin and M.K. Alagiri.
Even Karunanidhi’s daughter Selvi was unable to emerge as a major organisational power centre within the party.
Under Stalin, however, Sabareesan’s influence allegedly expanded beyond the traditional role expected of a family member.
Senior DMK sources claim that he began attending party meetings, interacting with functionaries across districts and becoming involved in candidate selection, thereby gaining influence that was seen as overlapping with Udhayanidhi’s political space.
The issue reportedly became particularly contentious when Sabareesan was said to have explored the possibility of entering the Rajya Sabha.
Udhayanidhi is believed to have opposed the move, arguing that Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was already handling the party’s interests in Delhi and questioning the need to send another member of the family to Parliament’s Upper House.
That opposition reportedly put an end to Sabareesan’s Rajya Sabha ambitions.
Sabareesan Pushes Back
Sabareesan, however, reportedly did not accept the allegations quietly.
According to Junior Vikatan, he recently met Stalin and presented reports and assessments that he had submitted before the election.
He reportedly argued that he had repeatedly advised the leadership to restructure the party but that his suggestions had not been acted upon.
He is also reported to have told Stalin that he had warned the party about the growing influence of TVK and Vijay and had suggested that the DMK alter its strategy accordingly.
Sabareesan reportedly defended PEN’s work by pointing to the scale of its electoral database and organisational information.
According to the report, he argued that no other organisation in India possessed data comparable to that held by PEN.
Stalin Caught In The Middle
This has reportedly left Stalin in a difficult position.
On one side is Udhayanidhi, who is seeking to consolidate his position within the party and has reportedly questioned PEN’s role.
On the other is Sabareesan, who is attempting to retain the influence he built within the organisation through PEN.
The dispute has reportedly reached Stalin’s family as well.
According to the Junior Vikatan report, the issue was discussed with Durga Stalin, after which the decision was reportedly taken not to make an immediate move against Sabareesan.
The result: the very organisation that party functionaries reportedly complained about is now said to have been entrusted with work related to restructuring the DMK’s organisational units.
That is what has reportedly left sections of the DMK cadre unhappy.
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The Bigger Question For Stalin
The immediate issue may be PEN. But the larger question is about who holds influence over the DMK’s organisation and electoral machinery.
For Udhayanidhi, the issue is reportedly about consolidating authority within the party.
For Sabareesan, it is about retaining the political machinery and data-driven organisational role he has built over the years.
And for Stalin, it is a question of balancing the competing claims of his son and his son-in-law.
The controversy therefore goes beyond one consultancy firm.
It is increasingly about the competing power centres around Stalin — and who gets to shape the DMK’s next political move.
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