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Even as ousted Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) member and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's son MK Alagiri is making plans for his political future following his father's demise, he has been making headlines as a challenger to his brother and DMK Working President MK Stalin’s leadership.
However, on 25 August, following a meeting with his supporters, the Madurai strongman said, “what is wrong in joining the DMK? It's my mothership party. It is a party developed by Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) and Anna (CN Annadurai).”
Stating that his rally on 5 September would pose a threat to DMK, he said, “watch how Tamil Nadu accepts me after this rally.”
Responding to the DMK's General Council meeting scheduled on 28 August, where MK Stalin is expected to officially take over the mantle, he said,
When asked whom he would like as the DMK chief, in case he rejoins the party, Alagiri shot back, saying, "but they would have already picked a leader on 28 August."
Stating that he had never hoped for a top post in the party, he said,
Speaking of DMK's electoral performance without him in the party, he said, "don't you already know how it (electoral performance) has been? You know well how many elections the DMK has lost and won since 2014. DMK has not won a single election since 2014."
Over a week earlier, when Alagiri went to pay respects at his father's memorial, he said, "all the men loyal to Kalaignar are on my side."
The two men had come together during the time of their father’s deteriorating health, even when meeting Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami over Karunanidhi’s final resting place at the Marina.
In December last year, following the DMK's embarrassing loss at the RK Nagar by-elections, Alagiri had pinned the blame on Stalin.
MK Alagiri was booted from the DMK in March 2014 following his anti-party activities.
( Published in an arrangement with The News Minute)
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