DMK names MK Stalin working president

Heralding a generational change in party leadership, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M Karunanidhi’s son M K Stalin was appointed the party’s working president on Wednesday.

The elevation of 63-year-old Stalin to the top post at the party general council meet, though a foregone conclusion, comes against the background of the 93year-old party patriarch Karunanidhi’s failing health. Karunanidhi, who will remain president, was hospitalised twice recently and is recovering.

It was the first time in 50 years that Karunanidhi could not attend the general council meet, owing to his illness. It was also for the first time in the history of the over 60-year-old party that a post of working president has been created.

At the general council meet, necessary amendments were made in the rules to facilitate elevation of Stalin, a former deputy chief minister. The elevation comes days after the ruling AIADMK elected Sasikala Natarajan as the new chief after J Jayalalithaa’s death.

That Stalin will succeed Karunanidhi, has been an open secret in the corridors of DMK for many years, Karunanidhi himself having given ample indications.

Alongside his present post of Treasurer, Stalin will be holding the position of working president, party veteran and General Secretary K Anbazhagan told the meet.

Soon after the announcement, celebrations broke out outside DMK headquarters ‘Anna Arivalayam’ and also at his residence, with party cadres bursting crackers and distributing sweets, hailing the elevation of their ‘thalapathi’ (commander).