How MGR and Jayalalithaa are helping Stalin's DMK

The DMK under M K Stalin is quietly fashioning a new strategy to woo MGR and J Jayalalithaa loyalists into the party. With the induction of former ministers Senthil Balaji and R S Raja Kannappan (a few days ago), Stalin has sent a message to the AIADMK cadres that the DMK’s doors are wide open for them. With former ministers S Regupathy, T M Selvaganapathy and S Muthusamy given prominent party positions, as also MGR loyalists K P Ramalingam, K K S S R Ramachandran, and Sekhar Babu, the DMK today looks more like an MGR DMK, holding out an olive branch particularly to the actor-politician’s followers in the AIADMK.

Senthil Balaji has proved to be a useful acquisition for the DMK as he not only helped win the Aravakurichi assembly seat but has also shored up the party in Karur district, generally considered weak for the party. Kannappan is an influential leader of the Yadava community, and brings in a vote bank which would be handy for the DMK. Besides, his association with the DMK could trigger an exodus from the old-timers’ camp in the AIADMK, according to DMK managers.