Vaiko likely to expel his close aide who opposes his son’s ascension

The man who launched his own party after he was expelled from DMK for opposing the rise of M Karunanidhi’s son, M K Stalin, is now preparing to oust his close aide of 32 years, ‘Mallai’ Sathya, who fiercely resists the ascension of Vaiko’s son, Durai Vaiko.

Chennai: Life is a circle—this adage seems to be coming true for senior Tamil politician Vaiko, the founding leader of the MDMK, in more ways than one.

The man who launched his own party in 1993 after he was expelled from the DMK for opposing the rise of M Karunanidhi’s son, M K Stalin (the current Chief Minister), is now preparing to oust his close aide of 32 years, ‘Mallai’ Sathya, who fiercely resists the ascension of Vaiko’s son, Durai Vaiko.

This is not the first time that Vaiko has endorsed or followed something that he once fiercely opposed. In 2019, Vaiko formally joined the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), declared his support for Stalin to become the Chief Minister, and accepted the latter’s return gift—a seat in the Rajya Sabha.

Five years later, in 2024, Vaiko secured a Lok Sabha seat for his son through the DMK alliance and ensured his victory from Tiruchirapalli. Since then, Durai Vaiko has been projected as Vaiko’s successor, irking Sathya, who has stood by his leader since 1993, when most of his senior colleagues left the party in search of greener pastures.

 Sathya, sensing that Vaiko could expel him from the MDMK, turned emotional on Thursday, reminiscing about their “good days” and reminding his boss, “I saved your life thrice.” He has also been openly criticizing Durai Vaiko, sending a clear message that he will never accept his leadership after Vaiko.

 After Sathya’s emotional outburst, Vaiko also responded by accusing his party colleague of acting against him for the past three years. “Once he saved me from falling into the sea. Which are the other two times?” Vaiko asked, expressing his displeasure at Sathya questioning Durai Vaiko’s ascension in the party.

MDMK sources say Sathya’s expulsion has become imminent since he has been speaking out against Vaiko and his son in public forums. “Moreover, he is also embarrassing the party by talking about the number of seats the MDMK should get from the DMK alliance in public meetings. Vaiko believes such things should be discussed privately with DMK leaders,” a source said.

 The man who once derided dynastic politics has, sadly, brought his reluctant son to steer the sinking ship of the MDMK. Vaiko is no exception, as it has become common for politicians to secure Lok Sabha seats for their children even as they continue to dominate the state’s political arena.

The decision also came at a time when a resolution passed by the party at its General Council—to get more seats for the MDMK and exert pressure on the DMK not to ask them to contest on its symbol—was withdrawn.

 The General Council’s resolution, which openly demanded seats in double digits, didn’t go down well with the DMK leadership. The DMK sent a strong message to the MDMK by inducting its local leader from Tiruppur, who lost the 2021 elections, into the party in the presence of Stalin.

MDMK sources said the DMK’s decision to take its leader into the party rang alarm bells, prompting Vaiko to intervene and withdraw the resolution seeking more seats.

“This was much more than a signal. And we don’t have a choice but to remain with the DMK for now. Quitting the DMK alliance and joining the NDA isn’t an option for us, as such a move would take away whatever credibility is left with the party,” an MDMK leader said.