Stalin 2.0 Settles In

A sense of security as party leader slid in gradually, after Karunanidhi. Meet the transformed Stalin.

- G.C. Shekhar

The white campaign van slowed down to a halt at Vaniyambadi—a town famous for its leather industry—amidst a flurry of flags of DMK and its allies. A rousing cheer from the waiting crowd filled the air as M.K. Stalin emerged through the roof top. The first glimpse of the DMK leader in a sparkling white shirt sent the crowd into raptures as shouts of “Thalaiva, Thalapathy” reverberated. he smiled, waved and did a namaste relishing the warm reception.

He then spoke for ten minutes, taking pot shots at the Modi government and the EPS dispensation. “Modi never cared to visit the state after the Gaja cyclone. He made you stand for days in front of ATMs after demonetisation, made small industry shut down due to GST and imposed NEET on Tamil Nadu against the people’s wishes. It is time to punish him. We know Modi is a dictator. But what about our chief minister Edappadi? He is an ‘udhavaakarai’ (useless person).” That description of the state’s chief minister had the crowd applauding spontaneously. Stalin paused and smiled as the message sunk in. He is happy, his punches are landing.

These days, the self-belief that radiates from the 66-year-old’s demeanour and the force of his speeches contrast with his hesitant, even bumbling, style of the past that had been the butt of social media jokes. As he gets a firmer grip on his party and is its sole pilot of the election campaign (after Karunanidhi’s demise) Stalin has quickly emerged as his own man.