Monday, April 5, 2010

Tussle between Alagiri and Stalin over succession issue

Veteran DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunidhi has already made it clear that party will decide succession issue, the tussle over which is to take place between his two sons. With the announcement of M K Alagiri that he would not accept leader after Karunanidhi may result in war of succession between his the two siblings - Alagiri and Stalin- in DMK, though they must understand that any internal differences in the party between two bothers will prove to be detrimental for them. The dynastic war of succession is not new in Indian politics. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Union Environment Minister Farooq Abdullah also faced problem in eastablishing himself as the heir apparent of his father and former J&K CM and party boss late Sheikh Abdullah from his brobther-in-law GM Shah, who also snatched Chief Minister's post for sometime through politicking from him. But after a very short time, Farooq Abdullah completely established himself as the true successor of his father and remained a supreme leader of his party National Conference. In Haryana also, after the death of veteran leader and deputy PM Choudhary Devi Lal’s death, the war of succession raised between his two sons but in the end the elder Om Prakash Chautal emerged as the supreme leader of his father’s political legacy and became the chief minister of Haryana. In southern states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, there was also a war of succession. After the death of the veteran AIDMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramchandran, there also took place the war of succession between his political heir apparent J Jaylalitha and his natural heir apparent his wife Janaki Ramchadran but here also MG’s political secretary emerged victorious and permanently establish herself as the unchallenged leader of AIDMK and became the Chief Minister of the state and presently she is the opposition leader. In Andhra Pradesh also, after the death of Telgu Desham supremo and former Chief Minister AP N T Ramarao, there statred skirmishes between his son-in-law and former chief minster Chandra Babu Naidu and his wife Parwati and here emerged his son-in-law victorious in war of succession and settled himself as the undisputed leader of his political legacy.Presently, he is Telgu Desham boss and leader of opposition in AP assembly. Now, it appears that the succession of M Karinidhi will not be smooth as both his sons are of vaulting political ambitions. Alagiri is organisation man while Stalin is administrative leader. The plus point that goes in favour of Stalin, which makes him heir apparent, is that he is closer to his father and more loving as he respects his sentiments and carries out his wishes promptly and and sincerely. Presently, he is only second to his father in party hierarchy also. As rural-face ed Alagiri has reach to the grassroot party workers, he can pose problem to Stalin in his smooth succession to the post of Chief Minister. After six decades of political career, Karunanidhi is on the verge of retirement from politics and succession battle may follow between his siblings.

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