Political overtures of Udhayanidhi Stalin have disturbed the peace in the party and the DMK first family equally alike. The extraordinary interest shown by Stalin junior in actively participating in politics has not gone well with a few members of the Karunanidhi clan, even as party functionaries were wary of the criticism Udhay’s debut would trigger.

Udhayanidhi Stalin

Chennai:

Murmurs were aloud in DMK circles that party working president Stalin’s siblings were not really enthused by his family making the push for Udhayanidhi. Even those siblings who have accepted Stalin’s rise to the throne were unhappy with Stalin’s son taking the political plunge, which is rumoured to be an idea of Durga Stalin.

 

Stalin’s younger sister Selvi and younger brother Tamilarasu were understood to have voiced concerns to their well-wishers about their brother’s son claiming his share of the political pie. 

Even rank party insiders close to Stalin do not mind saying that the feelers sent by Stalin junior would evoke a strong statement from a family member expelled from the party soon. 

Unsurprisingly, Udhayanidhi’s enthusiasm has also pricked party Rajya Sabha MP and Stalin’s step-sister Kanimozhi, whose well-wishers have been floating rumours of her elevation in the party from the moment she was acquitted in the 2G spectrum case. 

Whether or not the family expresses its grouse, Udhaynidhi has already provided fodder to critics and political rivals who were quick to fire their favourite ‘dynastic politics’ barbs at Stalin’s DMK. Significantly, even the spokespersons of DMK have either exercised caution or endorsed Udhayanidhi.  

K Karthikeyan, Chennai