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STATES: ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
2001
Stalin Avoids The Press
Curiously
for one who is in the media spotlight, Stalin scrupulously avoids meeting
the press. No interviews, no statements, simply no interaction. Insiders
ascribe his attitude to a strategy planned by his father to ensure that
his son stays away from controversy. The only time Stalin spoke up was
when self-proclaimed social worker and AIADMK sympathiser S.P. Shenbagamoorthy
filed a criminal complaint alleging that Stalin had amassed wealth disproportionate
to his known sources of income. The mayor made an impromptu appearance
in court, stating that "being the first citizen of the city, I will
be the first person to uphold purity in public life".
Despite DMK leaders appealing to the cadres "not
to compare Stalin with Karunanidhi", there is a definite strategy
to make the mayor fit as perfectly into Kalaignar's shoes as possible.
In a state whose last three chief ministers have all been from tinsel
town-actors M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalitha, scriptwriter Karunanidhi-there
is a conscious effort to promote Stalin as a talented writer despite the
fact that his only published work is the travelogue Wings of Travel, jottings
on his visit to a few foreign countries as mayor.
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The
grooming of Stalin has been so near impeccable that murmurs from
senior leaders are yet to be heard.
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This agenda of association is most easily recognised
in the changes in hoardings across Chennai showing Karunanidhi and Stalin.
Earlier, the hoardings had Karunanidhi with a pen in his hand, holding
court while Stalin occupied a corner. Of late, Chennai's first citizen
has edged his way to the centre. A close look shows that the pen has been
handed over to a new generation.
Long before the assembly elections were announced,
the chief minister stated that this would be the last election that he
would contest. That is the closest he has come to saying he intends to
hand the reins to Stalin. If the DMK retains power, that could happen
much before the Government's tenure ends. And the result could produce
an opponent worthy of Jayalalitha for a long time to come.
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