Health Apart, Is Stalin Stressed By Multiple Election Issues?

Whatever the criticism one may have of politicians when he/she is in power, the kind of hard stressful work that he/she is subject to at election time is staggering. But somehow, somewhere politicians find a fount of adrenaline driven energy and determination to cope. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin has not shied away from giving his best shot, despite the talk that his health is not robust. Just the other day, when the Assembly was in session, he left early, quickly followed by son Udhayanidhi, more MLA’s and some ministers. The leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami shrewdly noted the vacant treasury benches and chose to make it question hour, shooting a volley of questions and expecting responses, even as the house resounded with applause for his grandstanding. Stalin heard about this, and the Whip was told in no uncertain terms that the forthcoming Budget Session would not tolerate such laxity. But what Stalin is more challenged by is the contentious seat sharing issue for Lok Sabha. There are instances of his trying to welcome alliance hoppers but his party influencers are busy giving him advice about why Congress should not be given nine seats but only 5. They trot out the UP case study. And with TN Congress chief KS Azhagiri wanting a RS seat, the math just got tricky for Stalin. The influencers further say, the Congress last won Arni, Krishnagiri,Tiruchy,Karur and Sivaganga. As the party in power we could contest in four of these. Stalin indeed has to do real tightrope walking.