"Kanimozhi A Threat To Udhayanidhi Stalin, Denied Seat": Tamil Leader's Jibe

Insinuating a power challenge within the DMK's first family, Naam Tamizhar Katchi leader Seeman claimed Tamil Nadu's ruling party had baulked against fielding Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi, one of its more vocal and recognisable faces, in the assembly election due April 23 because she is a 'threat' to Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's eventual succession.

Sources said Kanimozhi - a two-time MP from Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi - wanted to contest the election and play a role in state politics. The same sources, though, said the DMK leadership was not in favour of her entering the state politics arena.

This, Seeman claimed, underlines power challenges within the DMK's 'first family'.

While Udhayanidhi, the Deputy Chief Minister and MK Stalin's son, is seen as the heir apparent, Kanimozhi is keen not to cede ground and is looking to reiterate her position in the party at the state level, according to sources.

She is widely regarded as having significant appeal among the DMK's ideological and intellectual base and remains the party's most prominent female face.

Seeman's comments came ahead of a parliamentary discussion on implementing thirty three percent reservations for women.

Speaking to reporters, the NTK leader said, "Despite being an efficient and able woman leader, and the daughter of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi the DMK is not allotting a seat to her."

Neither the party nor Kanimozhi has commented, so far, on the claim.

Meanwhile, actor Vijay's electoral debut - at the head of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam - is expected to affect the DMK's influence over youth and women voters, the latter of which has been a traditional weak link for the party. Fielding an appreciable number of women candidates could help it overcome that disadvantage, a section of election analysts have suggested.

Seeman's comments could also be seen as an overture to Left parties at a time when the DMK is finalising seat-share talks with an alliance of 25+ members. And the more that number swells, the fewer will be the seats the DMK is willing to gamble on, particularly since it is already contesting less than it did in the 2021 election.