Karunanidhi turns indecisive as Stalin-Maran tussle rages

Has Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK supremo M Karunanidhi lost his much-acclaimed decision-making abilities? Is he caught in the crossfire of family infighting reportedly involving his son M K Stalin and nephew Murasoli Maran, the Union industry minister?

The once-surefooted septuagenarian chief minister has exposed himself to charges of indecision when he crossed swords with Maran at the inaugural function of the Madras-Colombo maritime feeder service. Also involved in the wordy duel was Union Transport Minister T G Venkataraman, another DMK nominee in the Gujral government.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union ministers regretted the state government was not developing minor ports in Tamil Nadu. They also said the Centre was not kept posted on the progress of work undertaken.

DMK sources say the ministers were targetting not the state government, but state Transport Minister K Ponmudi, who is considered close to Karunanidh's heir-apparent Stalin. The idea is to send across a message to Stalin, which Karunanidhi is incapable of doing.

This perhaps had the DMK chief's approval, considering his reaction -- ''the state government doesn't want to lose its control over the minor ports'' -- lacked the characteristic Karunanidhi sting.

However, DMK sources say he doesn't want to do anything which gives the impression that he favours one group at the expense of the other. This was not his style of functioning earlier. ''In the past, when there was a serious administrative problem, the chief minister used to take firm decisions, and give concrete suggestions to his junior colleagues. He never used partymen to tick off an inconsequential minister at a public platform,'' said the DMK leader.

A clear dividing line is emerging within the DMK. As the younger leaders flock to Stalin, the Karunanidhi loyalists of an earlier generation are joining hands to keep the heir-apparent in check. While the older leaders fear they will be marginalised if Stalin takes over, the latter feels his fate would be sealed if an ''outsider'' succeeds Karunanidhi.

So deep is the divide that even well-meaning comments made with the party's future in mind tend to be interpreted otherwise. For instance, after Stalin came out in the open favouring TMC founder G K Moopanar for the prime ministership, a section of the DMK said it was intended to protect Stalin's own future. ''He wants to get the TMC's backing in case there's a succession tussle in the DMK,'' says one party source.

EARLIER STORY:Maran called 'Sakuni', DMK-TMC ties run into rough weather