Neither age nor the Tamil Nadu voter is ready to show any kindness to the old warhorse whose seven-decade long political career is in its late stages
Those who stray from the moral path will have neither peace in success not fortitude in tribulation; their pain is like that of the palanquin-carrier who cannot put his burden away
–M. Karunanidhi in Kuraloviyam, a commentary on Thirukkural
Karunanidhi has faced such desperation only on two occasions since he first became chief minister 42 years ago. In 1984, he got posters pasted across the state, showing him in a friendly chat with the then chief minister, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), whom he was hoping to defeat at the hustings. The idea was that public would be less hostile to him if their star-hero MGR were shown to be a friend of his.
(This story appears in the 08 April, 2011 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)