Chennai: Sunil Kanugolu, who had been working as DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin’s personal political strategist, has quit the assignment, according to party functionaries.
Sources said the DMK’s broader election strategy work was handled by the ‘Pen’ firm linked to Sabareesan, Chief Minister M K Stalin’s son-in-law. However, Udhayanidhi is said to have appointed Karnataka-based Sunil as his own private strategist from 2022, citing a personal rapport.
Sunil had earlier worked for the Congress in Telangana and Karnataka elections, and later for the AIADMK during the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the sources added. After actor Vijay launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Sunil reportedly advised DMK leaders to politically counter the new party by highlighting its public appeal.
The ‘Pen’ side, however, is said to have argued that Vijay did not have significant public influence and that the DMK could win by not engaging him. With the firm’s influence within the party and with Stalin, Sunil’s line did not gain traction, and Udhayanidhi also did not follow some of his suggestions such as extensive tours and aggressive political outreach.
Sources claimed that differences between Sunil and Udhayanidhi grew over time. They further said Sunil has now left for Telangana again to work as a strategist for the Congress, and has also decided to work behind the scenes for Vijay’s TVK.
