The neo-rationalist who woos believers for votes

CHENNAI: DMK president M K Stalin in his speech to the party’s general council members tried to woo believers without losing the support of rationalists. In the olden days, those who believed in God were considered to be far from the DMK. But today, there are several believers who have become senior leaders, Union ministers, state ministers and MLAs.
“We are not against God. Though we don’t believe (in God) we are not against those who believe in God and we respect them,” said Stalin.

Political analysts and commoners look at Stalin’s speech as a tactic

by the party to expand its base and be more inclusive.

“A section of society still feels that the DMK is against believers and their practices. But it is not true as even when C N Anndurai was chief minister, he clarified that there was only one caste and one god. It is only to woo a section of the community which is not in favour of the DMK that Stalin has said this,” said M Seshadri, a businessman. The present generation of youth is against conservative religious practices, he said. “My grandson who is working in the IT industry supports the DMK and whenever there is a debate in our house on state politics, the family is equally divided between the DMK and BJP,” said Seshadri.

R Manivannan, a college professor and economist, looks at Stalin’s speech in the context of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “Stalin has raised this issue only to create a larger vote bank for the party by including believers. It is a new strategy of accommodating all sections of society,” he said.

Over the years, Manivannan said several DMK leaders have deviated from what Periyar had preached. “Our family has not voted for the DMK till now in any election. But we never had any problem when the party was in power and today’s remarks by Stalin only make us believe that the party has space for believers too,” he said.

For M Mahesh, a railway employee in Tambaram, the “clarification” by Stalin would not affect his visits to temples nor his unflinching loyalty towards the DMK.

“In my family I am the only one who votes for the DMK in all elections. The clarification by Stalin will make me support the party more ardently,” said Mahesh.