In April 2001, as Tamil Nadu was gearing up for a fierce electoral battle between its Dravidian majors, the ascent of a 48-year-old MK Stalin within the DMK was being cemented. As the youngest son of Chief minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi, Stalin was gaining influence over internal DMK decisions and intra-party relationships.  

DMK leader K Anbazhagan, a close confidante of Karunanidhi, confidently said, "The reins of the Dravidian movement has always been in safe hands - from Periyar to Anna to Kalaignar and now to Stalin and in the future to his son." 

But contrary to popular belief, while Karunanidhi did eliminate some hurdles for his son within the party, he himself stood between Stalin and the throne. And while it would take Stalin 17 more years to fulfil this prophecy, for his son Udhayanidhi, the path to succession is already being clearly paved. 

Sources in the DMK have told TNM that the actor and part-time politician is set to be made the leader of the party's Youth Wing by the end of June. 

Why now?

The DMK Youth Wing, according to senior journalist TN Gopalan, was created in 1985 with the sole purpose to make Stalin the Secretary and gradually bring him into the party's hierarchy.

"And now, it will be a post that will act as a stepping stone for his son," he says.

DMK insiders say that this decision to formally anoint Udhayanidhi with a party post has been in the making for two months now. The final announcement is likely in less than a month.

Stalin had stepped down as Secretary of the Youth Wing, a position he had held for 34 years until 2017. Former Minister and three-time MLA Vellakkoil MP Saminathan replaced him. And even as top leaders looked into what they perceived as a vacuum of leadership in the Youth Wing, reports of Udhayanidhi Stalin's 'ability to draw crowds and mingle with supporters' became a talking point in the party.

"Leaders like TR Baalu for whom Udhayanidhi campaigned personally came back and spoke of his charisma on ground. He began to pitch for him as Youth Wing Secretary. Even KN Nehru and Ponmudi supported this appeal," says the DMK source. "After Stalin, it was Udhayanidhi who campaigned the most on the ground," he adds.

MK Stalin, however, apparently remained hesitant about the appointment and was initially inclined towards waiting till after the 2021 Assembly Elections.

A few leaders from the party too have reservations over such an appointment. One of them told TNM, "The narrative of dynastic politics may work against us. Once our leader is in the CM's chair, he can decide on these matters. But now given what happened in the Assembly byepolls we must focus on the task at hand."

However, party leaders in support of Udhayanidhi's elevation already set the ball rolling. Close to 40 District Secretaries from the state, according to sources, have written to Arivalayam, expressing their support for Stalin's son.

"To enable DMK to continue its successful stride and encourage the Youth Wing, Trichy north and south district DMK appeal to the party to appoint Udhayanidhi Stalin as the Youth Wing Secretary of the party," stated the resolution passed by the Executive Committee meeting Trichy north and south district DMK.

Singanallur MLA N Karthik tells TNM that DMK cadre in the Coimbatore district were enthused by Udhayanidhi's campaign before the Lok Sabha polls.

"He doesn't behave like the son of the party's President. He speaks to everyone with respect and is really able to get along with top leaders and the common man alike," he says. "We need a Youth Wing Secretary like him," he adds.

Political analyst and Associate Editor of Frontline, RK Radhakrishnan, however, points out that the support from District Secretaries cannot be taken at face value.

"It could be orchestrated by the senior leaders or done by party cadre to earn visibility," he says. "Udhayanidhi covered about four to five stops in a district when other leaders did 14-15. But having said that, this is a good time for anybody to join the DMK because they are going to be in the line of fire. The BJP's vindictive politics will be in full force and people will look for the leader who manages to withstand the onslaught," he adds.

A source close to Stalin too reiterated this.

"We are going to face Assembly Elections in about one-and-a-half years and need an energised Youth Wing, that will work very hard on the ground. Delaying his appointment serves no purpose," he says. "The more prominent and visible he becomes without any party post, the more hypocritical the party will look. It is best to give him a post because otherwise people will ask in what capacity he is working for the party," he adds.

Charges of nepotism

A DMK source told TNM that amongst Stalin's reservations about the appointment, was the charge of nepotism which is likely to be brought up.

But senior journalists and political leaders point out that while other political parties may use this as arsenal, on ground it doesn't make a difference to voters.

"When the Assembly Elections begin, people of Tamil Nadu are not going to see which party has dynastic politics and which does not. What they are going to look at is, which party can protect their interests and take on the BJP in the Centre," says Radhakrishnan.

DMK, meanwhile, argues that there is no party in Tamil Nadu that is free of nepotism.

"Can the AIADMK claim the same considering that its Deputy Chief Minister is fighting for a post for his son in the Centre?" asks the DMK source.

Party leaders further pointed out that despite being the Youth Wing Secretary, Stalin waited four years to get an MLA seat in 1989. And it took him three decades to become party President. This was testament to the fact that while Karunanidhi carved out the steps for his son in the DMK, he often held him back as well.

'Won't make his father's mistake'

In 2011, weeks after a humiliating defeat by the AIADMK at the Assembly polls, when Stalin’s supporters in the party raised the ante to make him the party President, Karunanidhi threatened to resign from the DMK. Even in 2016, despite Stalin doing the leg work for the Assembly polls, his father made it clear that he would remain the Chief Ministerial candidate. His deteriorating health was no deterrent.

And Karunanidhi's actions, leaders believe, are likely to have shaped Stalin's decision to appoint Udhayanidhi to the post of Youth Wing Secretary.

"Sons usually want to avoid the mistakes of their father," says one DMK leader. "Stalin believed that he was unduly held back and doesn't want the same for his son," he says.

And within the party, Stalin's close circle believes Udhayanidhi has what it takes to be a DMK leader.

"This appointment will be a test to see how be builds and organises within the party," says a DMK source. "If he can emulate the hard work of Stalin, he will surpass him."