Chennai: Cracking the whip, DMK on Friday suspended its Madurai strongman and Karunanidhi's son M.K. Alagiri from all party posts and primary membership, telling him that his opposition to DMK-DMDK alliance is not going be taken lightly.
"The statement is reflective of the high command's stand," party General Secretary K. Anbazhagan told reporters on the action against Alagiri, who is also a former Union Minister.
Karunanidhi, who is favourably disposed toward an alliance with DMDK, had recently distanced himself from Alagiri's remarks against any such alliance besides his criticism of DMDK founder Vijayakant, who also hails from Madurai.
In a veiled warning to his son on January 7, the DMK president had said those going against party diktat on key issues like alliance will face disciplinary action, including expulsion.
Incidentally, Friday's decision to temporarily suspend the Madurai MP from the party came hours after he met his father at the latter's Gopalapuram residence.
The timing of the disciplinary action assumes added significance as it comes just ahead of the DMDK meet on February 2 in which Vijayakanth is expected announce the party with which he would tie-up for Lok Sabha polls.
DMK leaders feel that the action would send the 'right signals' and soothe ruffled feathers of the DMDK leadership.
DMDK chief Vijayakanth was offended when Alagiri said he would 'never consider captain (as Vijayakanth is addressed by party supporters) as a politician'.
The actor-politician's party is being aggressively wooed by both DMK and BJP for an electoral tie-up for elections.
On Alagiri's suspension, Anbazhagan said while there were enough platforms and fora within the party to air divergent views and grievances, he had not chosen to use them.
Alagiri also made disparaging remarks about the 'high command of parties who wish to align with' DMK, he said in an apparent reference to Alagiri's criticism of Vijayakanth in a Tamil TV channel recently.
"Considering that his continuing in the party is not proper, and that it could affect party discipline, Alagiri is being temporarily removed from all party posts including primary membership," Anbazhagan said in the statement.
The action against Alagiri, often caught in a sibling rivalry with younger brother M.K. Stalin on who would be Karunanidhi's political heir apparent, seemed to have enthused supporters of the rival camp.
DMK legislator J. Anbazhagan, perceived to be Stalin supporter, welcomed the decision, saying Karunanidhi took the 'right decision'.
"DMK has practiced Politics in a Democratic way. In d ryt time @kalaignar89 (Karunanidhi's twitter handle) has taken a good decision. #Alagiri," he posted on micro-blogging website Twitter. He further tweeted, "Karunanidhi will punish anyone committing mistake in party," saying "Good move by #DMK on #Alagiri."
Madurai-based P.M. Mannan, a supporter of Alagiri and one of his five loyalists suspended recently for anti-party activities, however, said, "It is a high command decision. We abide by it."
Dravidar Kazhagam, often considered the 'mother party' of DMK, also welcomed the move, saying discipline in any party was primary.
DMK was founded by C.N. Annadurai after his split from DK, headed by rationalist leader E.V. Ramasamy.
"The right decision at the right time," has cleared charges of 'family politics' against DMK, DK leader K Veeramani said.
DMDK leaders refrained from making a direct comment on the development in DMK, saying it was 'Captain' who will take the final call on alliance.
While a section of partymen supported aligning with BJP as it could bring DMDK on to the national arena, some others wanted it to tie-up with DMK to 'teach a lesson to AIADMK', a senior leader considered close to Vijayakanth, said.
While AIADMK and DMDK had aligned for the 2011 general elections against DMK, they had later parted ways following a bitter argument between Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Vijayakanth in the state Assembly. The AIADMK supremo had later regretted her party's alliance with DMDK.
Expressing regret over the decision, some Alagiri loyalists said they would hold consultations with the former union minister soon after his return to Madurai.
Staunch Alagiri loyalist I. Mubarak Manthiri, who was among the five suspended on January 9 for anti-party activities, told PTI that the high command had suspended a good party worker in haste.
"We don't understand what happened. Let Annan (elder brother, as Alagiri is called by his supporters) come back home, we will consult him," he said. On the way forward, he said supporters like him would always be with Alagiri.
"We will always be with him, strengthen him and he would be the party's strength," he added.
Bose Muthiah, another Alagiri loyalist and brother of prominent Madurai based DMK leader 'Essor' Gopi wondered what the party would 'lose' if it recognised Alagiri and his contribution to the party.
Cautioning that things like suspension could slow down party work in Madurai district, he regretted that issues were not resolved amicably by the leadership.
"The high command could have brougth both sides to the negotiating table. They could have given us an opportunity to air our views. Then, they could have taken action they consider appropriate," he said.
Both Mubarak and Bose Muthiah hastened to add that they were however 'bound by the high command's decision'.
Head of DMK ad hoc committee in Madurai, G. Thalapathi, a supporter of DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, declined to make any comment. The ad hoc committee was set up after the high command disbanded party unit on January 4 following allegations of anti-party activity by Alagiri loyalists.
