DMK president M. Karunanidhi Thursday said his second son, M K Stalin, would be the party's torchbearer after him to fight for the upliftment of Dalits.
‘I will work till my death for the upliftment of the Dalit community. After my lifetime, it will be Stalin whom you should not forget,’ Karunanidhi said at a function in which over 2,000 Dalit members of PMK joined the DMK.
While some interpret the statement as Karunanidhi's preference for Stalin as his successor than his other son, M K Alagiri, political commentators dismiss the announcement as a diversionary tactic.
Karuna also said that he was the father-in-law of a Dalit woman since his elder son and union minister Alagiri's wife Gandhi belonged to that community.
Reacting to media's interpretation that Karunanidhi prefers Stalin over Alagiri as his successor, political commentator Gnani said: ‘The succession issue in DMK is a settled one. And it is a non-issue. It is well-settled that Stalin will be the successor to Karunanidhi.’
Gnani said when the DMK was in power in the state, Alagiri was not given any ministerial position whereas Stalin was made the deputy CM.
Gnani said Karuna was trying to divert the media's attention from AIADMK general secretary and chief minister Jayalalithaa's recent announcement of going it alone in the LS polls.
‘Jayalalithaa blamed the Congress and the BJP for Tamil Nadu not getting its due share of Cauvery river waters. Karunanidhi has not replied to Jayalalithaa's charge that the two national parties are blocking the Cauvery river waters,’ Gnani said.
It is usual for members of political parties to switch loyalties in large numbers in Tamil Nadu.
‘I will work till my death for the upliftment of the Dalit community. After my lifetime, it will be Stalin whom you should not forget,’ Karunanidhi said at a function in which over 2,000 Dalit members of PMK joined the DMK.
While some interpret the statement as Karunanidhi's preference for Stalin as his successor than his other son, M K Alagiri, political commentators dismiss the announcement as a diversionary tactic.
Karuna also said that he was the father-in-law of a Dalit woman since his elder son and union minister Alagiri's wife Gandhi belonged to that community.
Reacting to media's interpretation that Karunanidhi prefers Stalin over Alagiri as his successor, political commentator Gnani said: ‘The succession issue in DMK is a settled one. And it is a non-issue. It is well-settled that Stalin will be the successor to Karunanidhi.’
Gnani said when the DMK was in power in the state, Alagiri was not given any ministerial position whereas Stalin was made the deputy CM.
Gnani said Karuna was trying to divert the media's attention from AIADMK general secretary and chief minister Jayalalithaa's recent announcement of going it alone in the LS polls.
‘Jayalalithaa blamed the Congress and the BJP for Tamil Nadu not getting its due share of Cauvery river waters. Karunanidhi has not replied to Jayalalithaa's charge that the two national parties are blocking the Cauvery river waters,’ Gnani said.
It is usual for members of political parties to switch loyalties in large numbers in Tamil Nadu.