New Delhi, Jan 25- Suspended Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and party patriarch M Karunanidhi’s elder son MK Alagiri has reacted sharply to his suspension from the party.
Speaking to NDTV, Alagiri said there was no democracy in the DMK. “I suspect the DMK president has been blackmailed by somebody. I asked for justice for those suspended. The party has suspended me,” he added.
Alagiri had told The Hindu that he was certain his suspension from the party was ordered without the approval of his father and DMK president M Karunanidhi.
“I am sure that this action does not have the approval of Kalaignar. It is possible that the decision might have been taken without his knowledge; I never indulged in any anti-party activity. Everybody knows my contribution to the party, particularly in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, and its growth over the years,” he told The Hindu.
Alagiri was suspended from the party on Friday.
In a statement, DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan had said Alagiri was creating confusion in the party by urging party cadres not to work and criticising the disciplinary action taken by the party against some members for their anti-party activities.
He said the continuation of Alagiri in the party is not proper and would destroy the party discipline.
Hence Alagiri is temporarily suspended from the party.
“The members should accept this decision taken in the interests of the party and should stand united for the functioning of the party,” Anbazhagan said.
A few days ago, party strongman and south zone secretary had refused to meet his father and party president M Karunanidhi. Before this, a few partymen who were Alagiri’s supporters were also expelled from the party.
Earlier this month, Karunanidhi had warned Alagiri, saying those who went against party diktat would be expelled.
Miffed at Alagiri’s reported remarks against DMK’s possible tie-up with the Vijayakanth-led Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) for the Lok Sabha polls, Karunanidhi said he himself had as party “president,” expressed joy over a possible alliance between the two.
There were reports that Alagiri had suggested against a DMK-DMDK tie-up and if these were true then “there is no connection between them and DMK,” Karunanidhi said, seeking to distance himself from Alagiri’s remarks.
Karunanidhi’s warning came a day after Alagiri’s younger brother Stalin snubbed him at Tiruchirappalli, welcoming his party’s alliance with DMDK besides quipping that he doesn’t read such “unnecessary news items,” when asked about Alagiri’s reported views against any tie-up with Vijayakanth’s party.
Differences between Alagiri and Stalin are well-known with both sparring on the issue of who is the political heir apparent to Karunanidhi.
While the 90-year-old DMK chief had at times hinted that Stalin could well be his successor, Alagiri had challenged that, saying he would not accept anyone other than Karunanidhi as his leader.
-Indiatoday
