Bengaluru: M.K. Alagiri, the eldest son of late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) patriarch M.K. Karunanidhi, believes that the party, now led by his estranged brother M.K. Stalin, will split after the 2021 assembly elections.
Dismissing media reports that he was floating his own party, Alagiri told ThePrint in an exclusive interview that these were just rumours and that he would not hesitate to make a formal announcement when the time is right.
“I have made no such decision yet. What is the hurry? Let’s wait and see what is happening,” Alagiri told ThePrint. “One thing I am sure of is that the DMK will certainly split soon after the assembly polls. There is way too much infighting and lack of leadership.”
Asked about his political plans, the former DMK leader said he was still studying political trends in the state and that he would take a decision at an appropriate time.
While reports suggested that Alagiri could meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the latter’s visit to Chennai on 21 November, he denied any such plans but said he feels Tamil Nadu does have a chance for a new party to find space.
“In 1967, people thought the DMK cannot emerge as a party. Not only did the DMK emerge as a political party, it rose from strength to strength under my father,” Alagiri said. “The BJP too has been working to make inroads in TN. They are trying hard, let us see.”
Close associates of Alagiri, however, said he would be meeting Amit Shah.
“If the meeting with Amit Shah is positive, then we can expect the announcement of the launch of the party’s in Madurai by the end of the month,” said a close associate who also insisted that Alagiri would launch his own party.
Sources in the Tamil Nadu BJP also told ThePrint that Alagiri was among the leaders in the states that the party was looking at roping in. “He definitely has a strong base in the Madurai region and this will be very beneficial to any party,” said a source in the BJP. “If you see, even Kamal Haasan launched his party there. It’s the best place to test one’s popularity and strength.”
The sibling rivalry
Alagiri and Stalin have had a rivalry for decades, each wanting to be named as the political successor to their father Karunanidhi. It also led to Alagiri’s expulsion from the DMK in 2014, when he made derogatory remarks about his brother.
Karunanidhi had then claimed that what hurt him the most was when Alagiri made a public statement claiming that Stalin would die within three months. “Alagiri came to my house on 24 January and complained regarding Stalin and troubled me and used harsh words. Alagiri told me Stalin will die in three months. No father can tolerate such words against his son,” the then DMK chief told the media in 2014.
After the death of Karunanidhi in 2018, Alagiri made an attempt at reconciliation, saying he was ready to accept Stalin’s leadership if he was re-inducted into the party. Stalin, who took over the reins of the party in 2018, however, refused to let his older brother in.
Close associates of Alagiri told ThePrint that Stalin’s decision to elevate their sister and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi as the DMK’s women wing secretary, and prop up senior leaders such Duraimurugan and T.R. Baalu has caused heartburn to Alagiri.
Also read: Akshaya Patra governance under lens as 4 high-profile trustees quit in 2020, NGO denies link
The DMK stain must be wiped off from the political scene of Tamilnadu. DMK is the quintessence of fermented foul smelling rot among parties and its leaders unadulterated, womanising, know nothing street thugs in control of media.
Itis true I fully agree with Mr. M K Alagiri’s views. No leader like Kalaingar is available now. The present leader Stalin is also not making decent speeches. All in DMK are arrogant. All Hindus nowadays hate DMK very much DMK may lose deposits in most of the constituencies in the 2021 elections