Never before has a DMK show been so lavish. In fact, preparations for the state-level youth wing conference scheduled for December 15 and 16 at Tirunelveli — a backward and communally sensitive town — has all the shades of a coronation ceremony.

While his actual crowning may not take place, the dhalapathi or ‘commander’, as M K Stalin is called by his partymen, will use the conference as a platform to show off his muscle power and convey the message loud and clear to his family members and partymen as to who will succeed his father and DMK president, M Karunanidhi. This is the first time that a state-level DMK’s youth wing conference is being held. But it is the timing that has whipped up speculation that Karunanidhi is likely to hand over the party reins to his son. The power struggle within the DMK’s first family in May this year, leading to Dayanidhi Maran’s ouster, has spurred rumours that Karunanidhi will announce his successor at this conference.

However, with his detractors — particularly, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa — accusing him of favouring his family members in politics, the DMK patriarch is unlikely to make any move that may provide the Opposition an opportunity to accuse him of promoting dynastic rule. This, however, has not stopped senior party leaders from unabashedly heaping praises on the prince-in-waiting. While addressing a recent DMK youth rally, Arcot N Veerasamy, DMK treasurer and a senior minister, said that all senior leaders are ready to work under Stalin’s leadership. “There is no doubt that Stalin is well qualified to lead us,” he said.

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