Dynasty debate: Furore over Udhayanidhi’s induction into Stalin’s cabinet won't last long

Predictably, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has brought his son, Udhayanidhi, into the state cabinet. Predictably too, some opposition parties in the state have criticised him for resorting to ‘dynasty politics’. However, Stalin is only too well aware that the charge is more than 30 years old, and has only limited impact at the hustings, for various reasons.

Udhayanidhi’s rise was apparent as he was gradually initiated into the lower rungs of the party, the same way DMK patriarch, the late M Karunanidhi groomed Stalin. In a step-by-step approach, Stalin was made in-charge of the DMK youth wing, later fielded for the Chennai Mayor’s post, nominated as cabinet minister, party treasurer, deputy general secretary, working president and deputy chief minister, before finally becoming the DMK President and the chief minister.

In father’s footsteps

A similar roadmap seems to have been charted out for his son, Udhayanidhi, who too was appointed head of the party youth wing, with a view to establish connection with the youth of the party and the state. As an extension of this strategy, he has now been provided the subjects of youth affairs and sports which would provide him additional access to the youth, though a minor portfolio.

Also read: Will answer ‘family politics’ taunts through my work, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

Udhaya is expected to develop ‘Gen Next’ in the party so as to ensure a long-term foundation for the DMK, especially given the presence of a large number of political parties in the state that have an eye on the youth.

Just as Karunanidhi and his colleagues were getting old and affected by failing health, and he had to turn to Stalin to share his burden, Stalin too feels he has to lighten his burden, and build a second line of leadership around Udhaya. The DMK seniors led by general secretary Durai Murugan, TR Baalu, Ponmudy and others have been quick to approve this strategy to elevate Udhaya, recognising his potential of a connection with the youth through his film world image as an actor, producer and distributor.

From star campaigner to ‘crown prince’

Udhaya too has come in handy as a star campaigner in the last few elections. His conversational and easy style have made a mark in the DMK campaigns, and reduced Stalin’s burden.

There has been a broad acceptance of Udhaya in the party at all levels, leading to the present round of a minor Cabinet reshuffle, wherein the youth leader has been brought into the council of ministers.

The DMK has given an opportunity to the opposition parties like the various AIADMK groups and the BJP to criticise the continuation of dynasty politics in the Dravidian party. The BJP has been hitting out at family domination in various parties, and the elevation of Stalin’s son has come in handy for the saffron party to launch a fresh attack against the regional party.

The various factions of the AIADMK – the AIADMK led by Edappadi Palaniswami, Sasikala Natarajan (aide of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, and the party led by Sasikala’s nephew  TTV Dhinakaran – have targeted the DMK for promoting family rule. Sasikala criticised the “coronation” of Stalin, while K P Munuswamy who belongs to the Palaniswami camp said dynastic politics was in the blood of the DMK. Dhinakaran said there was no rationale to bring Stalin’s son into the cabinet.

Dynasty politics narrative won’t cut ice among voters

The question is whether their criticism will have a massive impact on the Tamil Nadu electorate.

Given the voting patterns of the past, the DMK has not been hit by such a charge in the last 30 years. In the past, Jayalalalithaa, the BJP and parties like the Marumalarchi DMK, have gone hammer and tongs at the dynasts in the DMK. Jayalalithaa would point out how Karunanidhi had bestowed north Tamil Nadu on one son, Stalin, while giving south Tamil Nadu to his other son, M K Alagiri, while his daughter Kanimozhi was made MP and women’s wing leader. However, the DMK did win the 2006 Assembly elections, 2009 LS polls, despite such charges.

Also read: Udhayanidhi sworn in as minister in Stalin’s cabinet, sparks ‘sunrise vs son-rise’ debate

The DMK lost in 2011 due to other factors like the Vijayakanth’s DMDK’s tie-up with the AIADMK, and in 2016 due to the third front of MDMK, Left parties, DMDK, TMC and VCK (said to have the blessings and support of the AIADMK)  which cut into the prospective votes of the DMK.

Further, Stalin is seen as a leader in his own right, having come up the ranks, and being in active politics for more than 40 years at various levels of the party. The gradual ascension of Stalin has not been taken amiss by the electorate, by and large.

Indeed, the issue of dynasts is looked at differently by people, especially in rural areas, where a person is known only as so-and-so, son of so-and-so. One is judged, initially at least, on the basis of the family from which he or she comes. Therefore, to come from a political family of Karunanidhi has actually been an advantage for Udhaya. Like all dynasts, Stalin had a head-start in this respect.

The people, by and large, are not averse to sons and daughters entering the world of politics, films or business, and view it as a natural thing.

Added to this scenario is the fact that most parties in the country follow dynasty politics, right from Telugu Desam Party, YSRCP, Chandrasekhara’s Rao’s TRS (now BRS), RJD, RLD, Biju Janata Dal, the Paswan family in Bihar, the Chautala family in Haryana, the Virbhadra family in Himachal Pradesh, the Badal (SAD) family in Punjab; Mehbooba Mufti, the Abdullah family (NC) and Azad family in Jammu and Kashmir; the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, and the DMDK, PMK and MDMK in Tamil Nadu.

Also read: Hour of ‘Chinnavar’: Stalin’s heir apparent Udhayanidhi joins TN Cabinet on Wed

The AIADMK itself nominated MGR’s wife Janaki MGR to take over the chief ministership after the former chief minister’s demise, though in a short-lived term.

Jayalalithaa too promoted the family of her aide Sasikala, whom she treated as a sister by adopting V N Sudhakaran of that family and providing party tickets to Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran. Many members of the Sasikala family even stayed at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence and floated companies there, with the investment of Jayalalithaa and others. Sasikala went on to be the de facto chief minister and party general secretary, wielding enormous clout in the state.

BJP guilty too

The BJP too has been guilty of striking alliances with various parties which elevated dynasts like Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP, Kumaraswami of the JD(S) in Karnataka, Chandrabbu Naidu and his TDP in Andhra, the Chautala family’s parties in Haryana, forming governments with the Thackerays in Maharashtra (Shiv Sena), Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal family) in Punjab, besides inducting Maneka Gandhi, wife of late Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, and Madhavrao Scindia in the Union cabinet.

In its own party, the BJP has provided tickets for Parliament and Assembly elections to dynasts all over the country, ignoring other claimants for such seats.

With the BJP adopting double standards on the issue, and as various parties are deeply entrenched in dynasty politics, dynasts have come to stay. Public support to the dynasts is another matter. That comes based on their performance and approach, which means success cannot be taken for granted. Coming from an illustrious or well-known family merely gives an intro and an opening. Sustaining a space or expanding it is a different issue altogether, and this can come about only on the basis of the individual’s achievements and skills.

In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK’s allies too ignore the question as the PMK is led by Anbumani Ramadoss, son of the party founder Dr. S. Ramadoss, while the DMDK has Vijayakanth’s wife, her brother Susheesh, and son Vijay, occupying important posts in the party. The MDMK too has seen a process of churning as the son of party Vaiko, Vaiyapuri, has a key post in the party which Vaiko insists came despite his opposition.

The AIADMK group led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam is also busy promoting his son, P Ravindranath, now an MP, while sons and daughters of AIADMK leaders in various parts of the state were eyeing seats in LS and Assembly polls.

Also read: ‘Son rise’ under a cloud as Stalin deletes Udayanidhi from posters

Therefore, the criticism against the DMK on dynasty politics, however, may not cut much ice with the electorate since all major political fronts of the state and indeed, the country, pursue dynasty politics as well.

(The writer is a senior journalist)

(The Federal seeks to present views and opinions from all sides of the spectrum. The information, ideas or opinions in the articles are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Federal)