The top leadership of the DMK has been trying to put up a united show saying that there exists no feuds among them and that no external force can break their unity. However, there are visible cracks in the form of family quarrels and party infighting that can lead to factionalism in the DMK under Stalin’s leadership.
If it was MK Stalin versus MK Alagiri for the previous generation, the fight for power is between Kanimozhi and her nephew Udayanidhi for this generation.
It is a well-known fact that Kanimozhi has a unique influence and has her own support base in the party. She represents the party both at the state and national level and remains an influential voice in Delhi, unlike Udhayanidhi.
Though she was formally accorded as Karunanidhi’s ‘literary heir’, large number of DMK cadres and sympathizers feel that she has all the potential to be his political heir as she is said to have the political hues of her father. Stalin on the other hand has made himself the butt of all jokes exposing his ‘oratory skills’ and double standards. On top of this, he has engaged a Brahmin from Bihar to give a facelift to his image which instead of working for him has become a political weapon for his opponents.
Despite Stalin’s failure to energise party cadres after his father’s death, reality remains that Stalin is in the DMK’s throne. Stalin had gone out of the way to keep his ‘own’ brother MK Alagiri away from grabbing the DMK’s reigns. So naturally, he would be threatened by the rise of his step-sister’s stature in the party. Like how he cornered MK Alagiri for himself, political observers say that Udhayanidhi’s sudden rise in the party is Stalin’s attempt to corner and contain Kanimozhi.
Several happenings stand testimony to this.
When there was attack on JNU students in January this year, Kanimozhi went there and addressed the students and extended her hand of support on behalf of the DMK. Her popularity among students soared after that. Two days later, Udhayanidhi followed suit. This left people wondering -what was the need for two leaders from the same party to come to the same spot that too within a few days?
The next incident where the tiff between Kanimozhi and Udhayanidhi was seen was the Sathankulam incident. As soon as the news broke out, it was Kanimozhi who went to Thoothukudi and expressed solidarity with the family and also handed out a cheque. Immediately, Udhayanidhi rushed to the spot without even taking e-pass allegedly, to extend his support. Again, party cadres were left wondering – what is going on between the two?
In 2019, Udhayanidhi started the young women’s wing under the youth wing of the party breaching into Kanimozhi’s area. As expected, it did not go down well with the women members of the party. Kanimozhi has been the party’s women’s wing secretary for several years. The starting of the new young women’s wing was a direct message to Kanimozhi challenging her authority.
All these have upset Kanimozhi who has a far more commanding presence than the new mushroom that has risen up after a rainfall.
It is to be seen how the family feud will play out in the lead up to the elections.