Click to play videoChennai: The DMK is all set to celebrate 50 years of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi being a legislator.
But ironically the flames inside the octogenarian politician’s family have overpowered them.
A succession war is not new to Karunanidhi, who first became an MLA in 1957. He had to fight a fierce battle to become DMK Founder C N Annadurai's successor in 1969.
Nearly four decades later the veteran politician is now a spectator to a battle within his own family, a battle that has often turned violent.
"When a person is the party head he needs to take responsibility for this. They often themselves encourage it so that the second rank does not challenge the top,” says former DMK leader and MP, Era Sezhian.
M K Stalin, Karunanidhi's younger son is the chosen one. He was made a Deputy General Secretary in 2003, and is now a minister.
But trouble had often come from within the family, from the elder son, Madurai-based M K Azhagiri, a man who is a law onto himself and control's the southern districts of the state.
Many believe that Azhagiri had lately reconciled to Stalin being made the heir. But then came the Maran family and the meteoric rise of Dayanidhi Maran as a Union Minister, which only added a different dimension.
"The party coming to power after winning seats from the southern districts only seems to have increased Azhagiri's profile and stature within the party,” says political analyst, Dr V Krishnaananth.
The DMK may be all set to celebrate Karunandhi's legacy in the Tamil Nadu assembly, but the question mark now is on the future. And the biggest threat to that future is the fierce battle within the octogenarian’s family.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.