Chennai: In an open letter to the individuals of Tamil Nadu forward of Pongal earlier this month, Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin dismissed “rumours” of his son, and state sports activities minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin’s elevation to the place of deputy chief minister.
Whereas Stalin and Udhayanidhi have each termed the “rumours” a diversion tactic from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Salem Youth convention, being held over the weekend, political analysts talking to ThePrint known as the Salem occasion a pedestal to determine the Stalin scion because the “heir apparent” within the occasion.
The theme of the youth convention is “state rights retrieval”.
Calling it a historic occasion to showcase the occasion’s imaginative and prescient and power, Stalin added within the letter: “Party workers should not allow diverting the focus of the Youth Wing Conference, which would be the cry for state rights. The intention of the conference would be to protect state rights and federalism. Those opposed to this are spreading rumours”.
The 2-day convention of the DMK youth wing, to conclude Sunday, was initially scheduled for 17 December, however was postponed twice owing to floods attributable to heavy rainfall throughout the state.
“On two occasions the conference was postponed in the interest of the public. Udhayanidhi was very clear that when the people were in distress and when several districts were struggling for livelihood, he did not want a conference to be connected,” mentioned A. Raja Tamilmaran, an organiser of the DMK riders’ bike rally.
In accordance with Tamilmaran, Salem was chosen as the situation for the DMK youth convention location by Udhayanidhi to vary the development of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (AIADMK)’s perceived dominance within the district.
Within the 2016 and 2021 state meeting polls, AIADMK had gained 10 of the 11 constituencies in Salem.
“To regain the glory of the party, Udhayanidhi decided that he wanted to have the location of the conference where the DMK had performed badly. Here is where the party has to be strengthened and the confidence of the cadres increased,” Tamilmaran added.
The occasion began with a torch rally from Chennai, traversing 316km crossing Kancheepuram, Villupuram and Kallakurichi districts, to lastly attain Salem Saturday.
The torch rally carried by the youth wing members would then be handed over to Udhayanidhi, and from him to occasion president Stalin on the venue, mentioned one of many organisers had earlier advised ThePrint, on situation of anonymity.
The occasion might be formally flagged off by occasion deputy basic secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi Sunday, within the presence of Stalin, occasion sources added.
Political analysts ThePrint spoke to mentioned the occasion was a present of power for the DMK and a method to advertise Udhayanidhi because the “heir apparent” of the occasion.
“This is a programme where they want to project Udhayanidhi as the heir apparent and do a show of strength. The DMK is a feudal party, and right now the party’s senior leadership has been backing Udhayanidhi,” political analyst Sumanth C. Raman advised ThePrint.
In accordance with Priyan Srinivasan, one other political analyst, one of many main goals of the occasion is to enthuse the cadres and the youth forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and “get them into election mode”.
Furthermore, the occasion may also be a testing floor to evaluate the heart beat of the cadres, “understand if Udayanidhi has managed to draw the youth wing towards him and also if he has a command over the party,” Srinivasan highlighted.
The analysts known as the convention to be a “show for Udhayanidhi”.
“Udhayanidhi will be the next leader and this conference is for projecting that. But will the conference give an immediate boost for him, maybe not. He will have to wait a bit, at least till 2024 Lok Sabha polls, to ensure that the criticism of dynasty politics doesn’t become the dominant talk point before the polls,” mentioned Srinivasan.
He additionally famous that the primary DMK youth wing convention in Tirunelveli in 2007, which was organised 27 years after the wing’s formation, was the primary signal of elevating Stalin as the following in line of the occasion after Karunanidhi. “Now, the second youth conference held in Salem will have the same impact for Udhayanidhi in his political careergraph,” he added.
Additionally Learn: ‘DMK not against any religion but can’t agree with demolishing mosque’ — Udhayanidhi on Ram temple
Drone present, photograph exhibition & extra
Chatting with reporters in Chennai Thursday, Udhayanidhi mentioned that shut to 3 to 4 lakh youth had been anticipated to take part within the convention. The occasion might be organising logistics, meals and seating preparations for the contributors from throughout the district and people travelling from exterior.
In accordance with organisers, whereas Stalin will formally inaugurate the occasion Sunday, the programme will start a day earlier than, with shut to twenty DMK audio system scheduled to deal with the gathering.
Bike salutes, stage performances and occasion songs, as effectively a drone present showcasing the DMK’s journey up to now are components of the occasion.
A 23-point demand by the DMK youth wing to the Bharatiya Janaya Celebration-led Union authorities may also be put ahead. “Placards in English and Tamil of 23 demands will be held by the DMK riders,” Tamilmaran had earlier advised ThePrint.
Then there’s a photograph exhibition “on the journey of the Youth Wing, starting with its set-up when Stalin was 14 years old” and e book stalls with main publishers providing books on the ideology of the Dravidian motion, ladies’s rights and setting, amongst others.
Stalin recollects his youth wing days
On Thursday, in a letter to the cadres accessed by ThePrint, Stalin had known as the youth convention the coaching floor for troopers for the upcoming democratic battlefield. He had mentioned he was prepared and ready to see every of their faces in Salem.
He reminisced in regards to the formation of the youth wing in 1980 and the way he was made the youth wing secretary in 1982.
“In 2007 the primary youth convention occurred. The occasion attracted the following technology of leaders to the DMK. The second youth convention now, within the face of the 2024 parliamentary elections goes to be a coaching floor to arrange the DMK’s younger troopers for the democratic battlefield, “ Stalin mentioned.
Speaking in regards to the theme of the convention, Stalin famous that within the 1970 Trichy DMK state convention, Karunanidhi had put forth 5 factors and the fifth one was “Autonomy at the State-Federalism at the Centre”.
“The principle of state autonomy aims to give more power to the states if the multi-faceted Indian Union has to be strong. Only when it is accomplished, the Union of India can function strongly in accordance with true federalism,” famous Stalin.
The CM added: “The second state conference of Kazhagam Youth is going to be held in Salem to show that there is an urgent need to carry out state autonomy forward in all the states in India.”
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Additionally Learn: Inside ‘traditional’ DMK’s digital shift & the corporate driving it — Stalin app & podcast to 2024 prep