‘Victim’ Stalin gets better grip on DMK

The uproar over CBI raids against his son -- despite stout denials from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram of any involvement -- appears to have instantly helped DMK leader MK Stalin strengthen his position in the party. Shekhar Iyer reports.

The uproar over CBI raids against his son -- despite stout denials from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram of any involvement -- appears to have instantly helped DMK leader MK Stalin strengthen his position in the party.

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Stalin, already boosted by the weak resolution passed by the UNHRC, got another shot when CBI sleuths landed at his house looking for a Rs. 1.4-crore SUV, a Hummer, allegedly bought without paying the required import duty.

Even his brother and former union minister, MK Alagiri, who was unhappy with Stalin over timing of DMK’s pull-out, was visibly “very upset” when he came to know about the raids.

“They did to my sister (Kanimozhi) first and now they have come after my brother,” Alagiri said reportedly.

Other DMK officials said Alagiri might be upset with Stalin due to the power struggle but when it came to any crisis, he would go by Karunanidhi’s last word and “the family honour.”

They added that the mood among the DMK cadres would be distinctly reflected when the DMK executive council meets next Monday.

Stalin said the searches were retribution for his party’s decision to quit the government.

He also accused the government of diluting a UN resolution asking Sri Lanka to investigate alleged war crimes.

Karunanidhi however, was more subtle in his criticism of the government.

“Generally, the DMK is being subjected to acts of political vendetta. This may be or may not be one of such acts,” the DMK patriarch told reporters in Chennai.

“If the Central Minister says that the raids happened without the knowledge (of the government), I cannot say I cannot believe it,” he said replying to a question.