The arrest of DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin is being viewed through a larger political lens within the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with senior party functionaries reportedly identifying Kanimozhi Karunanidhi as a potentially more formidable political challenger to Chief Minister Vijay than Udhayanidhi.
A report by Vikatan claims that some senior TVK leaders believe Kanimozhi’s political experience, wider political relationships and appeal among women voters could make her a tougher opponent if she were to eventually take over the DMK. The alleged calculation, therefore, is that elevating Udhayanidhi and turning the future contest into a “Vijay vs Udhayanidhi” battle could be more advantageous to TVK than facing a politically more experienced Kanimozhi.
According to the report, senior TVK leaders claimed that Chief Minister Vijay had ordered Udhayanidhi’s arrest to send a message that his government would not tolerate insulting or derogatory remarks against women. However, they reportedly acknowledged that the manner in which the arrest was carried out had faced criticism.
The TVK sources cited in the report nevertheless identified three political advantages that they believed the arrest had created for Vijay and the party.
TVK Sees Udhayanidhi Emerging As Vijay’s Principal Political Rival
The first calculation reportedly concerns the future leadership of the DMK.
The TVK leaders cited by Vikatan argued that although DMK president M.K. Stalin had lost the election, his political image had not disappeared. They pointed to the continued respect shown towards Stalin by Communist parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), including parties that are part of the TVK alliance, as evidence that he continues to retain political influence.
According to these TVK functionaries, sidelining Stalin from active politics would further strengthen Vijay’s image. They reportedly believe that Udhayanidhi’s arrest could simultaneously increase his stature within the DMK and accelerate his elevation to the party’s top leadership.
The calculation, as described in the report, is that Stalin could eventually withdraw from active politics while Udhayanidhi emerges as the principal face of the DMK. This would allow the political contest in Tamil Nadu to be framed as “Vijay versus Udhayanidhi”, the sources reportedly argued.
The TVK leaders further claimed that Udhayanidhi’s arrest could actually help establish him as a stronger political figure within the DMK by giving him the image of a leader who had faced government action.
Kanimozhi Seen As A Potential Challenge
The second calculation reportedly involves Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.
The TVK functionaries cited by Vikatan claimed that Kanimozhi possesses greater political experience and wider political relationships than Udhayanidhi. They reportedly expressed concern that if she were to eventually assume the leadership of the DMK, it could present a more difficult political challenge for Vijay.
The TVK sources further argued that Kanimozhi’s position as a woman leader could potentially help her attract a section of women voters who currently support Vijay.
Against this backdrop, the sources reportedly viewed the elevation of Udhayanidhi as politically advantageous to TVK, as it would provide the party with a male rival whom Vijay could directly confront in the future.
Arrest And The Women Voter Narrative
The third calculation reportedly relates directly to women voters.
According to the TVK leaders quoted in the report, Udhayanidhi’s remarks had allegedly angered or offended sections of women voters. They claimed that the arrest enabled Vijay’s government to project itself as taking a firm stand against remarks considered insulting to women.
The TVK sources reportedly believed that this could help create a political contrast between Vijay and Udhayanidhi, with Vijay being presented as a leader willing to act against offensive remarks and Udhayanidhi being cast as the politician facing the consequences.
The strategy, according to the sources, was therefore to establish a political narrative around “Vijay versus Udhayanidhi”, which they believed could eventually become a broader “hero versus villain” contest in the eyes of voters, particularly women.
The report stressed that these were assessments attributed to senior TVK functionaries rather than an officially stated party strategy.
Arrest Reportedly Caused Concern Among TVK Leaders With DMK Links
The Vikatan report also claimed that the arrest had created anxiety among some TVK legislators and functionaries who maintained contacts with DMK leaders.
According to the report, some TVK MLAs who had maintained communication with DMK functionaries were reportedly alarmed by the action against Udhayanidhi and began distancing themselves from their DMK contacts.
The report attributed their reaction to the fear that if a senior DMK leader such as Udhayanidhi could be arrested, individuals maintaining political or personal links with the DMK could also come under scrutiny.
As a result, several such TVK functionaries were reportedly said to have blocked or cut off communication with their contacts in the DMK.
The episode has therefore been portrayed by the report as having implications extending beyond Udhayanidhi’s arrest itself. According to the senior TVK sources cited by Vikatan, the action has simultaneously affected the internal positioning of the DMK, the future rivalry between the two parties and the behaviour of TVK leaders who maintain links with the opposition.
Whether the alleged political strategy will actually work remains to be seen. But, according to the report, one arrest has already triggered a much larger political conversation over the emerging Vijay-Udhayanidhi rivalry and the future leadership battle in Tamil Nadu.
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