MK Stalin, DMK chief M Karunanidhi's younger son, is now party's working president
Highlights
- MK Stalin named Working President of DMK
- Father Karunanidhi, 93, is unwell
- Stalin was chosen as political heir over older brother Alagiri
For the first time in nearly 50 years, DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi did not attend a meeting of his party's top decision-making body. The session of the General Council was used to promote his younger son, MK Stalin, as Working President.
Mr Stalin, 63, is also the Treasurer of the DMK. Though Mr Karunanidhi, who has served five terms as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, chose Mr Stalin as his political heir four years ago, the younger politician has been confined to an orbit that has not included the party's top job.
In recent months, Mr Karunanidhi, who is 93, has been hospitalised twice. His party today said that he has been advised to rest by his doctors.
Before the state election last year, Mr Karunanidhi, who has been in a wheelchair for years now, said he would be the Chief Minister if the DMK was elected. It was not. J Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK set a record by becoming the first Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to get a second consecutive term in nearly 30 years.
After her death last month, her close aide Sasikala Natarajan has taken control of her party.
With Mr Stalin's promotion today, Tamil Nadu's other major political force has seen a significant transfer of power too. "This is a huge responsibility. I accept the appointment as Working President," said Mr Stalin.
Mr Karunanidhi's older son, MK Alagiri, was expelled in March 2014 from the DMK for working against Mr Stalin, who has served in the past as Deputy Chief Minister for their father.