Tamil Nadu’s leader offers something India’s does not: competence
What M.K. Stalin lacks in charisma he compensates for with pragmatism
IT WAS DANGEROUS in the Soviet Union to accept a seat in Joseph Stalin’s inner circle. Many members ended up imprisoned or executed—though Jeno Varga, his economic adviser, lived a long and healthy life. That Varga was treated gently is a good sign for the five superstar economists recently appointed to the economic advisory council of M.K. Stalin, the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, south India’s most populous state.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Meet the Dravidian Stalin”
Asia July 3rd 2021
More from Asia
The scary new map of the South China Sea
Fresh fights over reefs and shoals test America’s credibility
Could Japan and South Korea finally become friends?
Younger generations are less concerned with their countries shared history
Taiwan is trying to learn from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine
Could it repel a potential Chinese invasion?
Myanmar’s military junta is battered by Chinese-backed forces
The Brotherhood Alliance continues its string of shock victories
Why Indonesia’s horror films are booming
Directors such as Joko Anwar are taking old ghost stories to new heights
Welcome to India, where the streets have four names
Constantly renaming cities, roads and stations is pointless and counterproductive