More the merrier for Kalaignar

However,there were not many takers for the ‘family connection’ theory at that time,as Maran had his own stature within the party. That he was the chief architect behind each of the DMK’s national political strategies — be it opening a line of communication with Indira’s Congress in 1980 or taking the party to the United Front or NDA camps in the late 1990s — proved his claim as the DMK’s man in New Delhi.

Karunanidhi’s younger son M K Stalin was a student of history when he was arrested under Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency. Since then,he has remained the heir-apparent to the CM’s chairs for over three decades now.

Stalin became one of the founding members of the youth wing of the party in 1982,and was made its secretary in 1984. The same year he contested and lost his first Assembly elections. His true apprenticeship started when he became the Chennai mayor in 1996,a miniature version of his father,the then CM. Now as the Local Administration Minister,number three in the DMK,and secretary of its youth wing for 25 consecutive years,the only question regarding Stalin’s anointment is when and not if.

However,Stalin’s ascent has not been without complexities. His elder brother,M K Azhagiri,was a contender to power in the early days,and was sent to Madurai in 1989 when Karunanidhi was the CM. After seeing several ups and downs,Azhagiri has come back to favour in the party in recent times. From facing a sanction from the party to being its organiser in as many as 10 Lok Sabha constituencies is quite a growth — especially for a man who held no post till recently,and worse,who was accused of murdering one of the senior most leaders of the party in the region,T Kiruttinan.

The case did not stand in the court and Azhagiri was made the organiser of the southern districts after three bypolls in Madurai region were won by the DMK-led Front in quick succession and that too,with convincing numbers.

According to a taxi driver in Madurai,Azhagiri has made himself approachable to one and all,not a trait that many leaders here show. “If you are a jobless person,he will give you a small amount,arrange for a loan with which you can buy an auto,and start a life,” he said.

Azhagiri is an aspirant for Madurai Lok Sabha constituency. However,party sources said that Azhagiri as the candidate could affect the prospects of Azhagiri the organiser for the other nine seats which the DMK can ill-afford at this juncture.

The fallout between the Marans and Karunanidhi family,including rival TV channels and distribution networks,are now part of an old soap opera. If he stayed in obscurity when not hounded by Karunanidhi or Azhagiri for nearly two years,Dayanidhi Maran is now omnipresent,never missing an opportunity to be seen alongside the CM. Now that every issue has been sorted within the family,Dayanidhi is said to be the candidate for Chennai Central for this election.

When he was making the first of his speeches during his debut election in 2004,Dayanidhi Maran was trembling. He was the candidate for Central Chennai constituency,a seat held for years by his father Murasoli Maran who passed away a year earlier. It only took few months for Dayanidhi to become Karunanidhi’s envoy in Delhi,sharing a much publicised bonhomie with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi,who is said to have inherited his artistic talents,came to active politics recently,when she was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member in May 2007. Women have been a strong vote bank for AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa,a legacy that the DMK challenged by promoting Kanimozhi as its ‘progressive’ female face. The party even organised a women’s conference for her. With Maran’s exit from the Cabinet,Kanimozhi’s name was suggested,and continued to be in circulation whenever there were rumours about a Cabinet reshuffle.

Last year,Jayalalithaa raised the family connection when she alleged that the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project was delayed for the sake of Kanimozhi,as it would have made it difficult for the then Congress government. Chief Minister refuted this and the project is going on steadily while Kanimozhi stands outside power,as of now.

The latest entrant from the family is Azhagiri’s daughter Kayalvizhi. She was launched at the same women’s conference at Cuddalore last year,where she scored points with the cadre with her speech. All three generations of the family was present to watch her quote Periyar,Anna and Kalaignar Karunanidhi,on and off the stage. Kayalvizhi’s name is doing the rounds as a possible candidate from Kanyakumari,though it is not yet certain whether Karunanidhi would allow all members of the family to contest this difficult election.

For all the criticisms from outsiders,the DMK has a strong second rung leadership in the districts,many of them ministers in the state Cabinet. They are the regional power centres of the DMK,and their say continues to be crucial for party affairs. Nevertheless,the influence of the first family is unmistakable.