DMK's "Rising Sun" shines on a "son rise"

Chennai, May 13 (UNI) Along with the 'rising sun' which is shining again on the political firmament of Tamil Nadu, a'son has also risen: DMK President M Karunanidhi's 'heir apparent' M K Stalin.

Stalin, perhaps in the first such instance in any state, has become a Minister in his father's cabinet. He had retained his seat in the assembly by winning for the fourth time from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai.

Stalin was the Mayor of Chennai from 1996 to 2002 when he was forced to 'abdicate' following the introduction of 'one man one post' legislation by the Jayalalithaa government.

Stalin came into the limelight in 1993 when Mr Karunanidhi's trusted Lieutenant, Vai Gopalsamy, popularly known as Vaiko, walked out accusing the DMK chief of promoting his son.

Thereafter, despite denials by the DMK supremo that the party did not believe in anointing leaders as in religious mutts, several senior leaders made it clear at the party's state conferences, especially the Villupuram meet in 2003, that Stalin was indeed the successor.

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