Karunanidhi Demise, End Of An Era In Tamil Nadu Politics

T S Sudhir

Ezhundhu vaa Thalaiva Ezhundhu vaa (Get up leader and come out).

This was the emotional chorus outside Kauvery hospital in Chennai for the last ten days. People invoked the Almighty, burnt camphor, sending prayers upwards to pray for an extended lease of life for their poet-politician. Ironical considering that Muthuvel Karunanidhi wore his atheism on his sleeves.

At 6:10 on Tuesday evening, Karunanidhi gave up the fight. The voices fell silent as news of the 94-year-old's demise was announced. Not that it was unexpected. A medical bulletin the previous evening had dropped sufficient hints that the end was near when it said "maintaining his vital organ functions continues to remain a challenge considering his age-related ailments."

At around 4:30 pm on Tuesday, another bulletin had warned that Karunanidhi's "condition is extremely critical and unstable" explaining that "despite maximum medical support, his vital organ functions continue to deteriorate."

Call it quirk of destiny or anything else, Karunanidhi's health took a turn for the worse just days before Jayalalithaa's demise in December 2016. It was as if it was a signal for Karunanidhi that with his principal adversary gone, he had no more big battles to fight. His political career had been marked by the friendship with MG Ramachandran that turned sour followed by the bitterness of his relationship with Jayalalithaa. For the past one and a half years, Karunanidhi has been confined to home and not politically active. The party for all practical purposes, is run by son MK Stalin.

Karunanidhi was an ace scriptwriter but even he could not have written the twists and turns of his story better. Rewind to 1947 when he wrote the story for Tamil film `Rajakumari' starring MGR. Three years later, as the writer of `Manthiri Kumari' (The Minister's daughter), Karunanidhi is believed to have recommended MGR's name for the hero's role. Both films were box-office hits and did a world of good to the careers of Karunanidhi and MGR.

Also Read: Stalin’s Emotional Farewell To Karunanidhi

Clearly Karunanidhi who wrote for over 75 films, had not bargained for the fact that his comrade in arms in the world of make believe would one day overtake him as the star campaigner of the DMK. Which is why in sheer desperation, Karunanidhi tried to promote his eldest son MK Muthu as a rival to MGR in the Tamil film industry, even making him copy his mannerisms. But with Muthu coming a cropper, Karunanidhi could not come to terms with MGR's rising popularity and the latter was shown the door after a spat.

The resentment over MGR using his on-screen persona, in whose shaping even Karunanidhi had played a part, to further his political career clearly irked the DMK chief. When MGR floated the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), Karunanidhi referred to the party as Nadigar Katchi (party of the actor). An attempt was made to remind people that MGR's cinema and politics were different and songs were composed to push the narrative that actors were no good. One such booklet of songs was titled `Cinema Soru poduma?' (Will cinema feed us?) and the lyrics ridiculed cinema as misleading.

MGR was to take his revenge by submitting a memorandum listing corruption charges against Karunanidhi's government. In January 1976, the DMK government was dismissed and Justice Sarkaria commission set up to probe the charges.

The period between 1976 and 1989 was perhaps the most trying time for Karunanidhi. Out of power, he had to ensure he retained his hold over the DMK, keeping the cadre motivated. And MGR did not make it easy for his political rival. When Karunanidhi became an MLC in 1984, MGR brought a resolution in the Tamil Nadu assembly to abolish the Legislative Council, on the grounds that it served no real purpose. The real aim, the DMK believed, was to deny Karunanidhi a forum to speak from.

In terms of electoral accomplishments, Karunanidhi clearly towers over most, not just in Tamil Nadu, but in the country. A five-time chief minister, 13 time MLA who won every election since 1957 except 1984 when he did not contest, Karunanidhi has few parallels in India's political theatre. But he would regret that in his political career, he was bested by two people, both junior to him in politics. After the dismissal of his government in 1976, Karunanidhi could not become CM so long as MGR was around. It was only after MGR's demise in 1987 that Karunanidhi tasted power again. Jayalalithaa was to deny Karunanidhi one last shot at the CM's chair in 2016 by winning a second consecutive term in office.

According to available records, Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa's paths crossed each other in Kollywood just once, in the 1966 Tamil film `Mani Magudam'. Jaya played the second lead in this movie, whose story was written by Karunanidhi.

When Jayalalithaa entered politics, the DMK subjected her to a bodyline attack. In her biography of Jayalalithaa, Vaasanthi refers to the party conference in Cuddalore in June 1982 when the whole town gathered to hear the queen of the silver screen deliver her maiden political speech.

"They mainly came to see a pretty face and were instead treated to an impressive, fiery oration," wrote Vaasanthi. The DMK was however, to describe her political entry as "Cuddalore Cabaret" in its party paper.

Also Read: Karunanidhi Death Black Day In My Life: Rajinikanth

But the incident that soured their relations for ever was the shameful episode inside the Tamilnadu assembly in 1989. When Jayalalithaa accused the ruling DMK of tapping her phones, Karunanidhi who was CM reportedly made an unparliamentary remark that irked her and was subsequently expunged from the records. A ruckus followed and in the melee, DMK leader Duraimurugan clutched at Jayalalithaa's saree and reportedly tried to pull it. A furious and upset Jayalalithaa swore not to set foot inside the Assembly till she won the next election and crush this show of male chauvinism.

1991 was Karunanidhi's worst moment. Jaya returned to the Assembly as chief minister with 225 seats, reducing the DMK-led alliance to a paltry seven. Her alliance vote percentage at 59.8 per cent was double that of DMK's 30 per cent. Karunanidhi chose to resign from his seat instead of attending the Assembly. Bureaucrats of that time say it was because Karunanidhi was apprehensive of an attack by the AIADMK inside the Assembly to avenge for the 1989 assault on Jayalalithaa.

Worse was to follow. Following her arrest in a corruption case in the late 1990s, Jayalalithaa took revenge by getting Karunanidhi picked up in the dead of night in a flyover case in 2001. The tit-for-tat revenge politics that the two played ensured their rivalry was characterised by vitriol and hatred.

Fifteen years later, when Jayalalithaa was sworn in as CM, MK Stalin was not accommodated in the front row during the swearing-in ceremony, despite heading a DMK strength of 89 in the House. Karunanidhi fumed at this "deliberate humiliation" saying "Jayalalithaa has not changed, she will never change." That forced Jayalalithaa to clarify that there was no intention to insult Stalin.

But beyond the public persona, insiders point out that MGR had a special affection for Karunanidhi and would scold anyone who called him by name, insisting he be referred to as `Kalaignar' (artist). When MGR passed away, Karunanidhi was among the first to arrive at his Chennai residence and was inconsolable.

Karunanidhi is likely to be laid to rest by the Marina, where the samadhis of CN Annadurai, MGR and Jayalalithaa are located. At least in terms of VVIP geographical location, it will be Tamil Nadu's way of thanking the leader who played a huge part in shaping its destiny.

With the passing away of Karunanidhi, an era in Tamil Nadu politics has indeed come to an end. A period that saw three larger-than-life figures playing politics in their own unique manner. One can only wish it was less unpleasant.

Also Read: Karunanidhi: A Colossus In Dravidian Politics