Chennai: Amid apprehensions among DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin's supporters of a possible comeback of his elder brother and former zonal secretary of party's southern region M.K. Alagiri into the party, the latter met party chief M. Karunanidhi on Saturday.
This is Alagiri's third meeting in a space of two weeks, making it clear that the thorny relationship between the father and son had turned smooth. Only two weeks ago, Karunanidhi, in an interview, had said he was not at all thinking of Alagiri and asserted that Stalin is his political heir.
The regular meetings had triggered speculations of Alagiri's return to the party, after the bypolls to three seats, with the support of the rest of the family. It is said Alagiri is keen on pushing his son Durai Dayanidhi into the DMK trust, while the other members of the family want Alagiri to have a party post as well.
At the moment, the DMK has a unified command under Stalin, who is shouldering the party's organisational work, besides the election campaign in the bypolls.
He is in total control of the party which is functioning smoothly, without any parallel power centres. His supporters are apprehensive of Alagiri's comeback as they fear that it would create confusion and leadership struggle in the DMK. At the moment, most of the DMK functionaries declined to make an official comment on the possible entry of Alagiri.
One of the functionaries said, “There is a thinking in the DMK that several family members muddling with party affairs is not good as it will bring down the image of DMK among the people. Rising from the ranks, Stalin is working hard for the party. People have accepted him as the party's face and the DMK nearly won the 2016 Assembly elections through his untiring efforts, new campaign strategy and style”.
“We are not against any one in our leader's family. But, a open declaration from the leadership that Alagiri's meeting with the DMK chief is purely personal and there are no plans to bring him into politics will clear the doubts of partymen and the public”, he added.
