Chennai: Time has come for suspended DMK south zone organizing secretary M. K. Alagiri to really be a brave heart (he is popularly addressed as anjanenjan by loyalists).
Expulsion from the party could be the birthday gift his father-party president M. Karunanidhi would give him shortly after he turns 63 on Thursday.
Party insiders, who admitted that showcause notice was ready to be served any time now, said they would not be surprised if it was served on Thursday.
“WhÂeÂther he replies to it convincingly or not, expulsion statement will follow,” a senior party leader requesting anonyÂmity confidently said.
“Similar squabbles had happened in the past, but not once had thalaivar revealed what transpired between him and his son, like he did this time,” a party MP said citing Kalaignar’s tear-breaker media briefing as an indicator of the relationship hitting the nadir. Alagiri had further damaged the already soured relationship by accusing his father of speaking untruth on Tuesday.
“Even if the kind father in kalaignar accommodates Alagiri in future, it is end of the road for him politically,” said.
“Unlike in 2001, thalapathi is the party treasurer and calls the shots in the party now. Even his die-hard loyalists in Madurai have ditched him for thalapathi. He (Alagiri) has no option but to buy time and make peace with his father,” said a former party Union minister discounting rumours that the whole episode was a drama staged by the family to cobble up an alliance with DMDK for polls.
Next: Stalin unruffled by Alagiri comments against him
Stalin unruffled by Alagiri comments against him
Chennai: DMK treasurer M.K. StaÂlin has again demonstrated why he is shrewder thÂan his elder brother AlaÂgiri.
While Alagiri managed to only blame his father for the media interview, a smart Stalin played to the gallery by diplomatically saying, “All those who are born are bound to die.”
Reacting to Alagiri’s pungent remark that he woÂuld die in 3-4 months during last week’s face off, Stalin on Wednesday said that neither did he take Alagiri’s statement seriously nor does he intend to make a fuss about it.
“Thalaivar’s frank staÂteÂment (of it) is sufficieÂnt,” said Stalin in a stateÂmÂent in which he urged cadres to abstain from buÂrning annan Alagiri’s effigies in violation of the party discipline.
“Thalaivar has realised that time has come to end Alagiri’s mischief, which was doing too much damage to Kazhagam. Besides opposing Stalin's rise, undoing of potential electoral alliances was too costly a mistake to commit,” said the district fuÂnÂctionary.
“Either fall in line or fall out,” was Kalaignar’s message to Alagiri this tiÂme, the district secretary remarked adding that Kalaignar has stated in no uncertain terms that he calls the shots and StÂalin runs the show in AnÂna Arivalayam.
Meanwhile, DMK ParÂliaÂmentary party leader T.R. Baalu categorically dismissed media reports and said, “thalaivar neÂver wrote to PM seeking additional security for thalapathi.”
“Sometime back, as DMÂK Parliamentary paÂrty leader, I made a representation to PMO seeking to upgrade security provÂided to Stalin, whose secÂuÂrity was a concern after the incident in Madurai railway station earlier,” Baalu told DC over phone.
Next: Alagiri denies ‘any peace broker’
Alagiri denies ‘any peace broker’
Madurai: Desperate to warm up to Anna Arivalayam, suspended DMK south zone organising secretary M.K. Alagiri on Wednesday said that none had approached him frÂom the party to broker peace. He was also learnt to haÂve told scribes that the party was mulling show cause notice against him.
When asked about Stalin loyalists burning his effigies, Alagiri said, “How do you (reporters) say that they were Stalin supporters? Even if they are Stalin supporters, I would take that as their birthday gift.”
However, when asked about life threat to Stalin and additional security cover sought by the party, Alagiri said that the life threat Stalin might be from people affected by him or the ones he had threatened. Alagiri refused to comment about DMDK leader Vijayakanth’s wife Premalatha describe face-off in the family as a drama.
