The AIADMK is wary of the threat from MK Stalin to its precariously-placed minority government and is doing everything it can to prevent the DMK from coming anywhere near the magic number to challenge the AIADMK state government. Some would even say that its alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections is for the sole purpose to ward off the DMK threat. The IT raids on DMK treasurer Durai Murugan’s residence and offices in Vellore smell of a deal with the BJP.

Could it a “conspiracy”, as alleged by Stalin, to countermand bypolls to two assembly seats of the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency, Ambur and Gudiyattam, so that the AIADMK continues to rule Tamil Nadu? There are doubts being raised that the raids could be part of a plan to paralyse DMK leaders from campaigning. Durai Murugan’s son Kathir Anand is the DMK candidate from the Vellore Parliamentary constituency.

The AIADMK-BJP alliance is dovetailed to help achieve each other’s objectives. It’s crucial for Narendra Modi and BJP to restrict the number of Lok Sabha seats going into the opposition’s kitty, and for the AIADMK state government, its very survival is at stake. Stalin believes the IT-raids, and the huge amounts of money allegedly seized from two premises of an associate of Durai Murugan, are a planned fabrication to stymie DMK’s chances.

It’s no secret that Narendra Modi faces a significant challenge from the Congress not only in the northern states but also in south India. The BJP hopes to open its Lok Sabha account from Kerala but that objective has taken a hit after Rahul Gandhi filed nomination papers from Wayanad in Kerala, which will have an impact on all LS seats in Kerala as also influence voting patterns in constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Of course, the BJP is jittery.

The Congress on its own does not stand a chance in Tamil Nadu. But allied with Stalin’s DMK, the Congress, too, becomes a force to reckon with. MK Stalin is the only head of a major regional party to endorse ‘Rahul Gandhi for Prime Minister’, not once but several times. This fact has registered in the BJP leadership. Just now, with polling for general elections 2019 to begin in three days, the AIADMK-BJP alliance appears to be getting desperate.

Stalin’s rise in the DMK took its own time. Muthuvel Karunanidhi’s long life ensured that he remained in the father’s shadow for decades. But there was no denying the fact that Karunanidhi’s chosen heir was Stalin though the succession was never proclaimed loudly. Stalin’s critics, of whom there never was a shortage, kept chipping away at the father-son equation but nothing seemed to dent it. Karunanidhi continued to give fresh leases of life to Stalin’s political ambitions.

Elder brother Alagiri tried, but failed. At one time firebrand Tamil leader Vaiko was a clear threat, his oratorical skills leaving Stalin dumb backstage, but Karunanidhi sent Vaiko packing from the DMK. And Stalin remained Karunanidhi’s first choice. If anybody thought Stalin was not learning to stand on his own, events post Karunanidhi’s death proved them wrong. His swift and conclusive handling of "Alagiri’s revolt” was indicative.

Stalin also proved that he’s not a novice when it came to playing his political cards well at the national level. Stalin is the only regional politician who has shunned presence in New Delhi. But like father Karunanidhi, he knows who to choose as his national partner. It will not help DMK if a Mayawati or Mamata Banerjee becomes Prime Minister. But the DMK is comfortable with an alliance with the Congress. And, so, it is the Congress.

MK Stalin learned this from Karunanidhi. Otherwise, what justifies the DMK-Congress tie-up in Tamil Nadu? The strength flows from the DMK to the Congress, not the other way round. Then, why? For one, Stalin’s decision to align with the Congress cannot be criticized by Mamata or Mayawati. By any opposition “front”. His goal is the same as theirs: Remove Narendra Modi and the NDA Government. Depending on the election results, the next steps will unfold. As of now, MK Stalin appears to be playing all his cards right.

The AIADMK is rattled and the “rattling” is showing in the sponsored IT raids on DMK politicians and DMK functionaries; in the attempts to countermand a minimum number of assembly bypolls to deny DMK a shot at forming government and in the attempts to put roadblocks in campaign cycles of DMK/Congress/CPI candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.

Stalin’s opponents in AIADMK are also going the extra-mile to depict him as “weak leader” who, if he was dominated by father Karunanidhi for most part of his life, is now being dictated to by son Udayanidhi and son-in-law Sabareesan. Surely, these are signs that MK Stalin is not weak, but strong! (IPA Service)