Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Hour of reckoning for DMK leadership, Stalin

By R. K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI May 21. Anger seems to have replaced shock and grief as the guiding emotion of many DMK partymen and middle-level leaders, as they come to terms with the killing of one of their senior leaders , Pasumpon Tha. Kiruttinan, who was stabbed to death while returning from his morning walk near his Madurai residence yesterday.

While some, who had come to the party headquarters here, said that they were aware that the enemies of the DMK would exploit the current discontent in the party, a few others were of the view that the need of the hour was to be isolate the enemy from within. The outside factors could be tackled later, as the party had successfully done in the past.

In fact, sources said at least one former Minister conveyed to the leadership the need to identify those who brought the party to grave disrepute and weed them out, so that it could keep its credibility intact in this hour of crisis. If the present state of gratifying particular sections continued, then the DMK would cease to be an effective opposition soon, they reasoned.

The grave nature of allegations against the DMK president, M.Karunanidhi's son, M.K.Azhagiri, and the fact that at least a section of cadre believes that followers of the Azhagiri camp were behind the murder give rise to a challenge, biggest the leadership has faced in a long time. ``This is murder of one of our own. The cadre needs reassurance now.

The leadership needs to go that extra distance to ensure that he still retains his faith in the party and the leadership,'' one leader said.

In that sense, the more vocal demand a response, which would be seen as fair and in the larger interests of the party. In their view, so far this has not been forthcoming.

They say that they are prepared to wait a trifle longer to watch what course the leadership adopts, as the leadership considers all facts before it reaches a conclusion.

Litmus test

A few local-level representatives were of the opinion that this was a test not just for the leadership. In many ways, the new situation is also the hour of reckoning for the former Chennai Mayor, M.K.Stalin. His actions over the next few days will decide if he still can continue to command the following, loyalty and respect that he enjoys in the party. In fact, his inaction after his supporters in Madurai were sidelined recently created considerable heartburn. Some of them even asked him if they should still continue in the party, stomaching such insults. Mr.Stalin reportedly counselled them patience.

``He has always acted in line with the dictates of the leadership and would never step out. This is a new situation. We do not want to continue if we think that some day we too could meet the same fate (as Kiruttinan),'' said a Stalin supporter.

The answer that he tells them would well decide his political future.

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