You can say so.

Because nothing describes Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi’s position now better than the worrying trough cricketing genius Sachin Tendulkar has hit in recent times.

Look at the similarities:

Both are past masters and proven performers of their respective games - if the 74 international centuries tell the tale the Little Master, the fact that Karunanidhi hasn’t tasted failure in the 50 years he has been contesting elections speaks for the 83-year-old.

Both have contributed to cricket and politics more than what they have drawn from their respective fields.

Though both have reached a stage in their careers where they know there is little left to prove, they will want to ride into the sunset with their heads held high.

But, unfortunately, the doubters have started to raise some uncomfortable questions. While the self proclaimed cricket gurus are busy questioning whether Sachin has any cricket in him at all, the so-called political pundits are asking whether Karunanidhi still has it in him to lead a fast developing state for five years?

While injury has ensured that we will have to wait a while for Sachin’s answer, the Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu have provided Karunanidhi with an opportunity to prove himself.

As Karunanidhi readies himself for one more battle, here’s a look at one of his recent outings.

Soon after he takes the stage around 9 pm at the famed intersection of the North and West Masi streets of the southern district of Madurai, the uproar is deafening, aided by extravagant fireworks.
“Please stop the fireworks,” Karunanidhi says. But they seem to have a mind of their own. After a few minutes, the fireworks stop and Karunanidhi starts.

After introducing all the alliance candidates, he launches into his speech: “I left Rajapalayam in the evening, swam through a sea of humanity and have reached here. Seeing which I am reminded of what I said yesterday. ‘Our good work so far has taken us to the foothills of the peak. Discipline and hard work will take us to the pinnacle. If we allow complacency to creep in, the glory that awaits us will slip out of our hands,’” he says.

Though it is a sedate start by any standards, but at least, he has the crowd’s attention, setting the stage for a late flourish.

Having administered a booster dose of confidence to the workers, he now turns his attention to his rivals.

“This election is not about the DMK versus the AIDMK; it is about democracy versus autocracy.” From there on it is a long monologue about how corrupt Jayalalithaa is. All the instances that he quotes are from her previous term.

He quotes a report from The Hindu on the judgment acquitting Jayalalithaa in the TANSI land deal case and exaggerates while translating.

None of the accusations/charges he levels at the AIDMK or Jayalalithaa are about her current term. Naturally, it does not wash even with the hardcore DMK crowd.

Sensing quickly that he is losing the audience, Karunanidhi talks about the poll promises that he claimed Jayalalithaa has failed to fulfill.

“She said her government will ensure that every classroom in government schools will have a teacher. It still has not happened.

After criticising her record as chief minister, Karunanidhi focuses on the AIDMK’s poll promises.

“She has promised that 10 kilograms of rice will be given free of cost. Why didn’t she get this brainwave when the famished farmers in Tanjavoor were eating rats?” he asks.

Then, with typical sarcasm dripping, he tells the crowd, “You know why she has promised such impossible schemes?” the crowd responds, “Why?”

“It is because she knows very well that the people of Tamil Nadu can’t ask her any questions.” The crowd again, “Why?”

“Because only if she comes back to power can you ask her questions?” he says, sending the crowd into raptures.

Just as he is beginning to get into his elements, Karunanidhi meanders to the poll promises of the DMK combine. He has to substantiate the seemingly impossible promises.
He takes up his pet promise - the free colour television. (For years, graffiti used to be a simple ‘vote for the DMK’ or ‘vote for the AIDMK’. But this time, the DMK has reduced itself to ‘To win a free colour TV, vote for the DMK’.

“Some mischief mongers are saying that it will be very expensive to give free colour televisions. Do they even know that if bought in bulk from China, the cost of one unit will be a mere Rs 2,000?”

Later, he swiftly gets the promise about providing rice at Rs 2 per kilo out of the way. ‘Incidentally, regarding distribution of rice, parties neither talk too much about their promises nor are they too loud when they raise questions about the rival offers.

Does this mean, after the polls, that all parties agree that none of them will be able to stick to their promises?

In all the Karunanidhi show was quite similar to some of Sachin’s recent innings.

He got a good look in and showed glimpses of the genius that he is before abruptly inventing a way to get out.

Despite being a mere shadow of his former self, Karunanidhi has been drawing huge crowds wherever he goes. But whether the crowds will translate into votes will be known only on May 11, when the results will be out.

Till then, Karunanidhi will have to keep his fingers crossed about his place in history.