Missing in action

 

 

When you are the king in waiting, everyone likes to give you a lesson to make you better in public life. The lessons may even come from enemy lines. Recently, M.K. Stalin received one such embarrassing lesson from his rival party AIADMK.

When the rain wrought havoc in Tamil Nadu recently, Chief Minister Karunanidhi was in Delhi. Meanwhile, the AIADMK Supremo blasted the government for not overseeing the relief work. Immediately after returning from Delhi, Karunanidhi, even at his 84-years of age, travelled to many rain affected areas and supervised the relief work. Even the ministers awakening from their slumber were seen at the affected places. But Stalin was nowhere to be seen, and this attracted a lot of unpleasant attention. In a state of political awareness such as Tamil Nadu, his presence in this distress situation was much needed. The opposition was not going to take this sitting lightly. Accusing politicians in a high pitch, for not being physically present at the calamity affected areas has long been part of Tamil Nadu politics.

Then came the startling news that Stalin was on holiday at Kumarakom, Kerala, to relax after his month of hard work conducting the DMK youth conference in Tamil Nadu.

Jaya TV, owned by Jayalalitha, managed to get some visuals from Kumarakom showing Stalin relaxing on a boat house. The rival channel broadcasted this gleefully and embarrassed the DMK to the hilt. It was after this that Stalin, after having reportedly received some serious ‘advice’ from father Karunanidhi, cut his trip short and returned to Tamil Nadu, to be seen at the affected areas, distributing relief.

In conversation with TSI, Cho Ramasamy, Editor of Thuglak magazine commented: 'Even if they are present, they are not going to do anything. I feel their presence here hardly matters.” The death toll in the state crossed 71 and the loss has been calculated to be 1500 crore. According to a government press release, Almost 13 districts were devastated and roads to the length of 10,650 kilometres were destroyed. The Tamil Nadu government has asked for central assistance to meet the requirements.