Not a post script, this

This blog, as its name suggests, is a post script. So, pardon me, dear readers, this is an aberration brought about by circumstances.

As I start writing this, it is 5.15 pm (December 16, 2007). M Karunanidhi, father of MK Stalin and chief minister of Tamil Nadu, is to speak at the DMK youth wing conference in Tirunelveli three hours from now (he will be late). For all those expecting an announcement from the DMK patriarch, I present this: There won't be anything substantial. MK Stalin will leave the imposing podium as MK Stalin, the deputy general secretary of the party, the local administration minister. Nothing more. Nothing less.

There won't be a coronation, but Karunanidhi will say that Stalin deserves the crown. Not without reason. Starting his political career in 1967 as an under-aged campaigner for his cousin Murasoli Maran, Stalin has worked his way up the party ladder. Stalin launched himself into the political limelight during Emergency, when he was jailed. As a party worker, legislator and Chennai Mayor, Stalin has enough to substantiate his ascent to the throne. Arcot Veersamy, a senior leader and Karunanidhi's lieutanant, is on the record that "the party is ready to accept Stalin as its leader."

Despite all the rolling-the-red-carpet, there won't be a 'pattabhishekam' for one reason: The DMK is insecure at the thought of Karunanidhi retiring. They tried this in 2001 when Stalin was asked to run the election machinary. He failed. He learnt a bit after that.

This is the first time DMK president M Karunanidhi has allowed any of its front organisations to have a separate state conference. And the youth wing, which came into being in 1980 with Stalin at the helm, made it really huge. But Karunanidhi's shoes are still too big for Stalin. Some day, somehow, he has to step into them. And then, the DMK will shrink, if not split.

Post post script: Karunanidhi himself has been reiterating that "elders should give way to the youth." If the DMK is to put this to practice at the Tirunelveli conference, it is more likely that Stalin passes on the youth wing baton to a younger leader than Karunanidhi giving way to Stalin.