Page 41 - AUG2018E

politics

• testing times Stalin’s first test will be 2019
general elections that will cement his position
in the party and Tamil Nadu politics

“It is no secret that BJP is backseat
driving the government,” said political
analyst Prof Ramu Manivannan of the
Madras University.
The two national parties — Con-
gress and the BJP — largely irrelevant
politically in Tamil Nadu for the past
over three decades may like to try and
occupy the political vacuum created by
the departure of the two leaders. The
political situation on the ground, with
ruling AIADMK losing popularity with
each passing day and DMK without its
sharpest political brain seems ripe for
national parties to exploit. But the Con-
gress is hardly in a position to make any
serious bid and is content with playing
second fiddle to the DMK, with whom
it has an alliance going. Whether it will
continue or not, time will decide, but so
far indications have been that DMK will
fight against the BJP.
The BJP on the other hand sees in
Tamil Nadu a chance of a lifetime to
enter Tamil Nadu, and may work out
an alliance or an understanding with
the dominant faction of the ruling AI-
ADMK. The BJP is also seriously trying
to woo Rajinikanth into its fold, with a
tie up, for the elections should he enter
politics as he announced he would.
to party or not — as he takes complete plan in place and her death sparked off Then there is the other superstar,
and formal charge of the party that is an intense power struggle within the Kamal Haasan, who can articulate his
yet to formally elect him as the leader party. Even today, the party is plagued ideas and thoughts well, who has an-
in place of his father Karunanidhi, who with internal squabbles that will grow nounced he will be working with the
was the unquestioned President of the in intensity as elections — assembly Congress and has endorsed the idea
party he was co-founder of for 50 years elections of 2021 — approach. For the of Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister
at a stretch. present it is the power that is acting candidate.
Politics within the Karunanidhi fam- like a glue and also for the reason that But in all these permutations and
ily or the DMK’s first family is what that most of the MLAs know that without an combinations will be side play as the
could cramp Stalin somewhat as he Amma, their individual chances of win- main political battle in Tamil Nadu still
plots the future course of action and ning seats were highly doubtful. will be between the two Dravidian ri-
how it fights the forthcoming 2019 Lok This is not so in DMK, which is on vals — ruling AIADMK and opposition
Sabha general elections. an upswing and has been highly active DMK. Whether the superstars can win
But, one thing is clear. It is certainly as an opposition party, raising issues enough votes and seats is something
an end of an era in Tamil Nadu politics of concern and taking an anti-Centre that remains to be seen whether they
with the demise of the state’s tallest stand, at a time when the perception of are serious long-term players or dis-
leaders Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa. the people of the state was that the rul- rupters at best.
What ails the ruling AIADMK is that ing AIADMK was working as the B team
unlike in DMK, there was no succession of the BJP. letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 august 2018 41 www.Tehelka.com