Karunanidhi's Protectionism on Dynastic rule

Over the last few days, I have seen a few articles in the press where the current chief minister of the southern state of TN in India has been cracking the whip on the Maran Brothers. The story behind the message is nothing more than protecting the rights of his favoured son taking the role of his heir apparent and moving the various political peices in the Dravidian Movement under him to ensure that he hands his legacy over to his own son.

Quite rightly he sees the challenge comming from his nephews - the Marans. Marans run the very succesful media company which owns SUN TV and a few publications and have the means to communicate with the public which is causing him sleepness nights. The fact that Marans are the children of one of MK's closest aides and family member in the late Murasoli Maran who within his rights was a very able minister in the central and local government when he was alive adds to the twist in the tale. Let us not forget that the Marans have a very good track record of managing businesses and administering the media group under them professionally. Under the Maran control the telecom industry moved fast to catch up with the world in progress and commercialisation which has further added to the woes of MK and ratled him.

MK clearly sees the Marans as threat to his son and the dynastic principles of Indian leaders. And as long as the Indian public do not come out and move away from awe of the rich and powerful, there is room for leaders like MK to twist the rules of the game to fit their selfis purposes.

Does MK have the courage to hand over the DMK to the Marans and ask Stalin his son to win the hearts and minds of people by going to the grassroots and delivering after the Marans rectify the political scene in TN? I doubt very much because Stalin neither has the hold nor the charisma of his father and will fail in the hustings in case the father is not in the scene. Further the progressive increase in the literate and expecting TN public will give more credence to the abilities of the erudite and educated Maran brothers over the tainted Stalin who has some remarkably strong stains on his reputation.

I really wish the people of TN ask for more accountability and ensure that this father to son handing over of power is put to a stop immediately.