Karunanidhi proposes, Azhagiri disposes
It’s all in the timing. And that’s why one wonders whether union fertilisers minister M K Azhagiri is letting it be known that he is against younger brother M K Stalin taking over from his father. After all his observation that his father was not going to retire came within days of Karunanidhi clearly taking one more step back and pushing son Stalin one more step forward.
About two months ago when Karunanidhi said he was ready to “step aside”, there was no reaction from either his family or the party. But a few weeks later, Stalin, when buttonholed by the media, was evasive; only saying that his father needed “rest from rest.” But Karunanidhi has consistently – and at different fora – made it clear that he wants to take a back seat. This week he went as far as to say that Stalin would complete his “unfinished tasks.”
Saying he was too tired in response to an awardee’s wish (the CM was giving away awards to scholars, writers and social activists at the government’s annual Thiruvalluvar Day celebrations) that he continue like South African leader Nelson Mandela and just deceased former West Bengal CM, Karunanidhi responded, “Yes, I intend to follow in their footsteps, for both these leaders went into retirement when the time was ripe. I have said this recently, and I’ll repeat this again at Valluvar Kottam.” He went on to hint that Stalin would take the baton from him.
But two days later, Azhagiri had a different take: “CM will not retire from politics. He will continue to lead the party and the government.” So what gives? A fresh break-out of sibling rivalry?
Return of the prodigal?
It is no secret that Azhagiri is feeling like a fish out of water in Delhi and is definitely a non-resident minister. Chennai or Madurai is where you can find him mostly. And now with dad Karunanidhi seeming ready to anoint Stalin as the CM, will Azhagiri hotfoot it back to state politics? It’s a possibility. “No one can predict what will happen in the future,” he shot back to a question, confirming that coming back to the state has crossed his mind..
So does that mean he’s going to close the Delhi chapter? “I can work for the welfare of my state and party without relinquishing my (ministerial) post.” As someone put it, only his agenda here will change. After all he too has chief ministerial ambitions and is not going to toe the line just because his father pushed him Delhi-wards to make “the line clear for Stalin.”
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A rose by any other name…
When invitations were printed for his wedding, the groom was called Pradeep. But in addition to acquiring a bride, the groom (the grandson of late Dravidian leader Dharmalingam) had to give up his “Aryan” name and was christened Madhivaanan.
The man who gave him his new name is a lover and promoter of Tamil and is none other than the CM. He was affronted that Dharmilingam, a hardcore Dravidian leader, had a grandson with a non-Tamil name. “I see that Pradeep resembles his grandfather very much, but it’s not enough. He must also exhibit the same (Dravidian) feelings. I can take the liberty of changing his name here and now because I am also a grandfather to him. From now on Pradeep will be known as Madhivaanan. Long live Madhivaanan,” the CM said to wild cheering from the large audience. The groom, we are told, was not exactly thrilled. But what’s in a name?
Not just Pradeep, even poor parents apparently prefer a Nikhil or Neha or some modern (read “Aryan” name) for their newborns. That is why for successive years, on Karunanidhi’s birthday, corporation hospitals in Chennai have had to entice parents with a gold ring to give their children Dravidian names. Last July, deputy CM Stalin (for those who don’t know, he was all set to be christened “Ayyadurai” but his namesake and Russian leader died and his father being an admirer decided to give him his idol’s name) , while speaking at the distribution of the gold rings scheme, said a total of Rs.3.67 lakh had been spent on providing 250 gold rings costing Rs.1,468 each. And that’s only last year. Move over Pradeep, Madhivaanan is here.
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The mother of all ambitions
Chennai Sanghamam, the fourth edition of which concluded last Sunday, is usually associated with CM Karunanidhi’s daughter and Rajya Sabha MP M Kanimozhi. But this year someone else close to the CM was prominent. And that was Rajathiammal, the CM’s second wife and Kanimozhi’mother. She was credited as being the “brain” behind the show put up by Callibre Academy. Folk dances, folk songs, not to mention traditional food – the hallmark of all Chennai Sanghamam events across parks in this metropolis – was on display. Rajathiammal (in a pink sari), was a surprise guest at this function at the Academy. Thus whether at the inauguration on January 10, the valedictory or in-between, the mother was just as prominent at daughter at various venues. Rajathiammal is credited with fighting for a ministership for her daughter but had to bow out after the fusillade of criticism about the Karunanidhi clan in UPA-2. But in addition to being ambitious for her daughter, it looks like her own ambitions are beginning to bloom. After all she can’t let her “souten”, Dayalaluamma steal all the limelight particularly at a time when the patriarch is signalling he is ready to fade away.
