So far, Karunanidhi too had been content with his daughter’s creative pursuits, reserving his political ambitions for son M.K. Stalin, who he hopes will take over the party reins some day. Among his six children, the DMK patriarch doted on Kanimozhi, always finding time for her and recognising her as his literary heir. He even acknowledged it at a recent folk art function, Chennai Sangamam, which was organised by Kanimozhi, saying she had his poetic ability, literary craving and love for Tamil language. But there was no hint of any political aspiration, even though the function was seen as her first attempt to test political waters: it drew adverse publicity after Karunanidhi was accused of issuing a Government Order giving financial support for the initiative.

Even if her views on taking the political plunge had changed over the years, Kanimozhi preferred to fall in line with her father’s wishes. Till Maran’s ouster, that is. While Karunanidhi has chosen to remain silent on her possible political role, the media has gone to town speculating about the portfolios she could get. Kanimozhi, of course, has demurred in her characteristic soft manner: “It is too early to say anything.”

Earlier, when relations between the Marans (Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi) and MK brothers (Stalin and Azhagiri) had begun to sour, Kanimozhi was seen as a replacement for Maran. But it had seemed unlikely that Dayanidhi would fall out of favour with his granduncle. Now, when Kanimozhi seems set to take the political plunge, Karunanidhi fears she will receive adverse publicity if she is propelled into the Union cabinet, what with the media seeing her as the possible “reason” for Maran’s exit. But with her brothers giving the green signal, Kanimozhi’s political anointing is only a matter of time.