The last anchor (Passing away of M Karunanidhi)

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The last anchor (Passing away of M Karunanidhi)

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• Passing away of Karunanidhi: He has left a power vacuum in the DMK, and happened at a time when 

1. AIADMK has seen another power vacuum with the death of J Jayalalitha, and 
2. Tamil Nadu has witnessed a general decline in governance quality over recent years, across the board.

• The beauty of being M Karunanidhi: His mentors Periyar EV Ramaswamy and C N Annadurai recognised his talent with the beauty and intricacy of Tamil language, and fearlessness against the hegemonic Brahminism. His later years as CM saw him as an excellent Party organiser and for 50 years, it was so.
• Seizing control from the Congress in 1967: MK's art of compromise was responsible for DMK's ascendancy. After MGR left, and built the AIADMK, Karnunanidhi worked on "compromise" that built an electoral grip in 32 TN districts with each having a different caste group domination!  (Mudaliars, Gounders, Pillais, Chettiars, Dalits, Thevars)
• Tamil rights and willingness to accommodate: DMK's national rise was due to the right balance he could strike between these two. The alliance with the BJP in 1999 was most shocking!
• BJP versus the DMK, nothing in common! The radical Dravidianism fought against Hindu nationalism, north Indian political vision, Hindi roots and hegemony of upper castes. Why? To avoid his TN DMK govt. being fired by the Union govt. (the third time after 1976 and 1991).
• Good or Bad? To what end? So, why would Karunanidhi compromise so much from time to time? It can be understood by a comparison of DMK with AIADMK. Under both MGR and later J Jayalalitha, the leadership rungs in AIADMK under the top eroded rapidly, but not so with the DMK. Today, Stalin has taken over in DMK, but AIADMK is torn apart.
• BJP senses its opportunity: So this 'vacuum' after the death of JJ and MK opens up a window for the BJP that can put enormous funds into TN politics and also use CBI /IT dept. tactically to try to build bridges with local leaders, and try its luck.
• Earlier needs vis-a-vis today's: The welfare politics of Dravidian parties of the 1960s onwards may not be needed by Tamilians now. All that is done. The challenge today is – the deteriorated quality of governance across sectors.
• Corruption: Both parties saw benevolent autocracy coupled with merciless rent-seeking (corruption). The AIADMK was brazen in it (through Sasikala) and the DMK was indirect and subtle about it (Telecom sector, etc.).
• Harm done: This streak of corruption has scared many to shift industries to other states! Weak government institutions have led to a series of poorly-managed crises - Jallikattu, Sterlite protests, floods in Chennai and droughts elsewhere, crisis in sand and electric power sectors, and the general mood of uncertainty.
• Who will bring stability? Would it be a wounded AIADMK by setting aside differences, or the DMK by casting itself in a new mould? Time will tell.  CONCEPT
• Summary : The death of Karunanidhi is also a reminder of how Dravidian welfare politics has run its course, and a whole new modern approach to governance is now needed if TN is to maintain its pole position among states.

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