While there is all round rejoicing among the DMK cadres over the elevation of Udhayanidhi Stalin as deputy chief minister by papa M K Stalin, the chief minister as well as the party supremo, a sense of dejection and discontentment are visible among the top echelons of the Dravidian major. 

Veteran ministers and regional satraps of the DMK are aghast over the speed with which Udhayanidhi has been promoted as the second-in-command of the government as well as the party. Even those ministers who are hangers on in the Stalin household are of the view that Stalin Junior made it to the top of the hierarchy only because of his “pedigree”.

The DMK, founded  by C N Annadurai in the company of M G Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi and V R Nedumchezhiyan has transformed itself over the last four decades from a democratic outfit to a dynastic entity, according to Malan,  political critic and author.

“The promotion of Udhayandhi is all set to weaken democracy, strengthen dynasty politics, corruption and sycophancy,” Malan explained to The Pioneer.

He also pointed out that only children of veteran DMK politicians could become MLAs, MPs and ministers. “The minimum qualification to become minister or people’s representatives on DMK ticket is that one should be born as the son or daughter of Stalin’s acolytes,” said Malan. He pointed out that there was discontentment among the family members of martyrs who sacrificed their life for the party.

G C Sekhar, chronicler of Tamil Nadu politics, said it is too early to make any judgment about Udhayanidhi. “Let’s wait for some time and see how he manages the show. His only qualification is that he has the pedigree to become even the chief minister. But whether the DMK cadre would opt for him once Stalin retires from active politics is anybody’s guess,” said Sekhar with more than four decades experience as political critic.

According to reports coming from the Stalin household, the chief minister is not in the best of health.

“His recent trip to the US was for a medical check up and the results are not music to he party cadres. Udhayanidhi, though actively involved in politics since 2021 is yet to inspire the party,” said P K Srinivasan, another veteran commentator and author based in Chennai.

Malan’s apprehensions about corruption and dynasty politics get substantiated as  Senthil Balaji who was arrested and was imprisoned for more thn 470 days too was sworn in as minister on Sunday. “Balaji was a synonym for massive corruption according to Stalin till the former crossed over to the DMK from the AIADMK. Now the chief minister describes him as the embodiment of honesty,” says Srinivasan.

According to Sekhar, the DMK continues to remain in power because of the disunity in opposition camps. “The AIADMK and BJP are fighting each other ferociously than they fight the DMK. If an alliance is forged between the AIADMK and the BJP, it may enliven Tamil Nadu politics,” said Shekhar.

All the three are unanimous in their view on what makes the DMK click. “The DMK is not strong without its allies. Fringe outfits like VCK, MDMK, the Lefts and Islamist organisations sustain the DMK. In the 2021 assembly election, the DMK scraped through by just 4.4 per cent. The VCK, a Dali outfit has started bargaining with the DMK for a share in the power or more seats and this has made the Dravidian major a sitting duck,” said Malan.

The recent declaration by super star Vijay Joseph that he would be a strong contender in the 2026 assembly polls has made the political landscape lively. Vijayan is likely to cut into the Christian and Dalit votes of the DMK. Chennai-born Shirley Murphy, an Evangelist based in Wales said after her recent tour to Tamil Nadu that the Christian population in the State is likely to cross 10 million in the near future.

“This is one reason why Vijay, himself son of an evangelist, chose to launch a political party of his own.” said Gauthaman Ramakrishnan, chief editor, Sri TV.