Despite a playwright by himself, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam (DMK) supremo Muthuvel Karunanidhi, who is known for his master strokes in testing times, might have not anticipated the unfortunate twists and turns ?scripted? for the fag end of his political career.

The 87-old Karunanidhi, who had expressed willingness to quit active politics and dedicate more time to his favourite pastime, penning scripts for films, however changed his mind to put an end to the sibling rivalry between his sons, the Union fertiliser minister Alagiri and Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Stalin.

The sons, in the event of Karunanidhi’s retirement, had gunned for the top post in the party and government. Sensing the danger of the party becoming a divided house, the DMK chief declared his intention of shouldering the responsibility further more, even being wheal chair mounted.

“‘People have given me proper rest,” was Karunanidhi’s first reaction to the DMK’s dismal show in recent years. His typical cryptic remarks came as no surprise in political circles as succession wars have come to haunt the DMK’s first family for the past few years.

The DMK leader, who won with a huge margin of over 50,000 votes from Tiruvarur, was one of the founders of the DMK, a splinter group of parent organisation of EVR Periyar-founded Dravidar Kazhagam, first represented Kulithalai constituency in 1956.

Since then, he has had an unbeaten record and has now won for a record 12th time though his aspirations of being at the helm for a record sixth time remaining unfulfilled.

Political observes say that he may now entrust with Stalin the tough task of rejuvenating the party with an eye on the next assembly elections in 2016.

?Already on wheel-chair, he may not be taking up any more party acitivities, but may indulge in penning screen scripts for this close friends from Tamil film industry,? said a DMK functionary.

However, many in the party believe that, infighting between the brothers is likely to escalate further in the backdrop of party losing power. And with senior leaders like finance minister in DMK ministry Amabazhakan tasting defeat in the polls, there is a demand for infusing younger blood into the rank and file.

“A number of DMK ministers, including party veterans, Veerapandi S Arumugam, K N Nehru and K Ponmudi had been defeated by the AIADMK which means the total disintegration of the party,? political observes said.

Even Stalin could win in Kolathur constituency by a meagre margin of 2,423 votes. Stalin, garnered 65,462 votes defeating his nearest AIADMK rival S Duraisamy who got 63,039 votes.

Karunanidhi’s one of the priorities now will be to save his poetess daughter Kanimozhi from the mess of 2G Spectrum scam. He got a temperory respite on Saturday when special Delhi court deferred the bail application of Kanomozhi till May 20.

“He may dump former telecom minister A Raja, but Kanimozhi is very close to his heart and now that he is free of responsibilites he will be chalking out strategies to get Kanimozhi out of the case”, said sources in Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam.

The party, they say, has been particulary concerned about the relationship with Congress, its ally in the state elections. The bickering with them during the seat sharing and consequent non-coopertion has been talk of the town during the compaign.

The Congress inability to put its house in order during elections had put the Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam in a piquant situation.

“The Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam leadership of the view that the Congress party’s stand in election has impacted negatively to the outcome of the poll. The Congress was reduced to single digit this time,? sources said.