The 85 year-old DMK chief has had a successful public life for more than six decades. He worked closely with DMK's founder C N Annadurai closely. Karunanidhi, who has faced many challenges in his political career, is considered one of the tallest leaders Tamil Nadu has produced. Kalaignar, as he is affectionately called, made his electoral debut in 1957, winning Kulithalai Assembly constituency. He was re-elected from Thanjavur in 1962 but soon shifted to Saidapet in Chennai in 1967. That was the year the DMK wrested power from Congress in the state for the first time under the leadership of Annadurai. Karunanidhi succeeded Annadurai and since then he has become the chief minister five times.

The Chief Minister significantly said in a public meeting last week: “Brushing aside politics and power, I will come closer to the people.” When would he do it? After completing of the new Assembly complex, building a world- class library in memory of the DMK founder Annadurai and holding world Tamil Conference in June 2010. These three are his unfinished agenda.

Some see Karunanidhi's announcement giving a cut-off date for his retirement as a pressure tactic to ensure a smooth succession. While the Opposition leaders see it as a political drama ahead of the two by-elections scheduled for December 19, some see it as a threat to his party and family to behave but the party downplays this.

The post-Karunanidhi scenario is quite fascinating but a bit confusing as well because he is the only unifying factor. With the party ready to accept a dynastic rule, the sibling rivalry among his children may damage the party. Trying to divide power within his family, he dispatched his elder son Azhagiri to Delhi as a minister and his daughter Kanimozhi as an M.P. His grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran is also a central minister. Above all, he anointed his younger son Stalin as Deputy chief minister hinting his desire that Stalin should take over from him. Stalin is settling down as the Deputy chief minister. In the past six months, Karunanidhi has already taken semi retirement allowing his son to manage the show. Even in the Assembly he allowed more space for Stalin and intervened only when required. It is both a signal and warning to the party and his family. The succession plan of Karunanidhi may not be a smooth affair, as his politically ambitious children will fight for their space in the family and party. Various branches of the Karunanidhi family head the factions in the DMK, and this announcement is bound to make them more active.

Karunanidhi is already facing tremendous pressure from Azhagiri, who is disenchanted with Delhi politics. He wants to get back to state politics as he has a strong base in the Southern Tamil Nadu. He would not like to leave the state entirely to Stalin. This is bound to create tension.

Secondly, there will be a vacuum as none in his family or in the party will be able to fill it. Karunanidhi is known for his political acumen, shrewdness, political manoeuvring and administrative skills. He has worked with many Prime Ministers including Indira Gandhi, Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. He has the loyalty of the bureaucracy.

Thirdly, his retirement will have a larger impact on the politics of the state as well as the Centre. AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, who is waiting and watching, is hopeful that the post-Karunanidhi scenario may be beneficial to her and her party. The two Dravidian parties - DMK and the AIADMK - have dominated Tamil Nadu politics for many decades. The Congress has been riding piggyback since it lost power in 1967, alternatively aligning itself with the DMK and the AIADMK. Smaller Parties like the MDMK, PMK, Dalit parties and Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) of film actor Vijay Kant have only cut into the votes of the DMK and AIADMK. Jaya, being a shrewd politician, will try to make the most of the confusion and infighting in the DMK once Karunanidhi is out of the picture unless the DMK chief is able settle things to the satisfaction of all.

At the central level too, the DMK may lose its present relevance. Despite not speaking English, Karunanidhi was able to manage the coalition politics effectively without sacrificing his party's interests. He had managed hefty portfolios for his party at the central level whenever the DMK was part of a coalition; He was able to play a role in national politics even during the National Front and United Front regimes. His party shared power with almost all the coalition combinations at the Centre.

Fourthly, alliance politics in Tamil Nadu will also change with the Congress trying to occupy the central space of the DMK. Already, AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi is talking about the Congress regaining lost supremacy in the state.

The Left parties, which had been aligning with both the Dravidian parties, are keeping their options open. A clear picture will emerge only before the 2011 elections. After a brief honeymoon with the AIADMK in the 2009 polls, the Left has broken free of that party.

DMK needs another Karunanidhi but will it get one? That is the million dollar question. (IPA Service)