Chennai:
It's a different kind of Paa that's playing out in Tamil Nadu politics.
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi wants to retire next year. While many say this is to put in place a succession plan to elevate his son M K Stalin as Chief Minister, his son wants his Pa to stay on.
Asked about his father's retirement plans, Stalin, who is the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu, told NDTV: "My father gives rest to rest [defies rest] and we believe he will not retire."
But is he ready to take over as Chief Minister? Stalin refused to give a straight answer and said: "Well I can't answer this, you will have to ask him (Karunanidhi)."
Karunanidhi took everyone by surprise on Saturday last, announcing his retirement after the World Classical Tamil Conference to be held in Coimbatore in June 2010.
The 85-year-old chief minister was addressing a meeting organised by the Arundathi Makkal Katchi when he said: "After the construction of new Assembly complex, inaugurating of Anna Centenary Library and World Classical Tamil Conference I will be one amongst you shorn of ministerial trappings."
The announcement sparked off intense discussion within the party and in the media.
It was only in May this year that Karunanidhi had elevated his son M.K. Stalin as the deputy chief minister and allocated most of his portfolios to him. Karunanidhi has been staying away from poll campaigns, which are now taken care of by his sons Stalin and his elder brother and union Minister Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M.K. Alagiri.