For 92-year-old MK, a victory for party means rest

Last Saturday, Karunanidhi started his address saying he was glad to have met the Puducherry audience. His speech was slow and deliberate. It can be nobody’s case that Kalaignar ever spoke with great urgency — he was always a man whose words were measured and delivered as if he was in total control.
But, at Puducherry, the delivery seemed a tad slower than before.Then Karunanidhi talked about his long association with Puducherry. It’s been a long time, he reminisced. The baritone was still very much there — the rasp hadn’t gone. Karunanidhi said he wanted to speak longer but because of health issues and voice problems, he would have to wind up soon. He reminded the audience that Pondy and TN needed to be saved.
At Cuddalore on Sunday, he talked about how he had been coming to the district ever since its formation. He talked about departed comrades, again going on a nostalgia trip. “The DMK is against caste or religious divisions. It struggles for equality,” he said. Karunanidhi also talked about Stalin — referring to him as his son, unlike in the past when he may have referred to him as the party treasurer.
Kalaignar’s campaign meetings now have an uncharacteristic personal touch. The touchy-feely Kalaignar is a rather new phenomenon. Voters saw glimpses of it in 2014 but 2016 is seeing its full manifestation. Half-way through the 20-minute speech at Cuddalore, Karunanidhi launched a full attack on the AIADMK.
Playfully flicking his shawl, he referred to newspaper reports of pleasure-seeking ministers. Then he said: “Ithu Nada, Allathu Kada?” (Is it a nation or the jungle?). This was probably the only instance of Karunanidhi lapsing into his trademark alliterative style in this speech. But even these attacks came with oodles of nostalgia — a feeling of how the state was going to the dogs.
“In a land where Kamaraj ruled, Bhaktavatsalam reigned, followed by Annadurai and I, such things are happening,” he rued. In Thanjavur, he cited his age. “I am 92 years old, struggling to walk and even speak properly. The energy I am seeing in the party is taking me forward.” He signed off, saying, “I want to rest now. For me rest means positive outcome for my hard work.” A positive outcome for Kalaignar is a win for DMK.