Talk to DMK workers in Madurai about former Union Minister M.K. Alagiri and the response is always hush-hush.
The former southern strongman might be out of the party, but he remains a key part of the electioneering with campaigners making it a point to assure voters he will not return to the DMK post elections.
Why do they do it? The cadres say the “atrocious behaviour” of some of Mr. Alagiri’s supporters between 2006 and 2011 still remains fresh in people’s memory. While his loyalists tried hard to manufacture the image of a “benevolent leader” post the 2011 Assembly election whitewash by holding events to help the needy, the excesses of his men overshadowed any such attempts.
And after DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin reorganised the party structure in 2013 and put his own men in charge, the idea has been to distance the DMK as much as possible from Mr. Alagiri.
In Tirumangalam, the place now inextricably linked to the ‘cash for vote’ menace which helped pitchfork Mr. Alagiri to national limelight, groups of local DMK cadres go door-to-door to assure voters that his ouster was permanent.
This reporter accompanied a small group of DMK campaigners in Kandai village in Tirumangalam. Seeking the support of four women, the campaigners recalled Mr. Stalin’s recent apology for the past mistakes and assurance of proper administration. “You have Thalapathi’s [Stalin] word. Please vote for us without fear for the development of this place,” they said.
The day also saw rumours spreading among DMK men in Madurai that Mr. Alagiri will be coming out with a list of charges against Mr. Stalin. When asked about it, the functionaries said DMK president M. Karunanidhi will intervene.
Meanwhile, AIADMK campaigners do not miss a chance to invoke the memories of the highhanded behaviour of Mr. Alagiri’s supporters. V. Azhagarsami, who gathered a group of 15 women to campaign for the party candidate in Pungankulam village, kept urging voters not to give a chance to the former DMK South organising secretary to return. “He [Alagiri] kept saying he was Madurai king. But Chief Minister Jayalalithaa put him in his place. You know how the law and order situation improved here, under Amma’s rule. Please ensure this peace continues and vote for Two Leaves,” he said
Given the unsavoury past, the idea is to distance the party as much as possible from Alagiri
