The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Tuesday expelled its south zone organisational secretary and former Union Minister, M.K. Alagiri, for his persistent slanderous attacks on party seniors and anti-party activities, taking the sibling rivalry in the DMK’s first family to a point of no return ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“Despite having been already suspended from the party, [Mr.] Alagiri continued to violate party discipline, and is hence dismissed from the DMK,” party general secretary K Anbazhagan declared in a statement in Chennai, after consulting party president M. Karunanidhi. The decision was the culmination of Lok Sabha aspirants like MDMK chief Vaiko and those from other parties, including the BJP and the Congress, trooping to Mr. Alagiri’s residence in Madurai, seeking his support, in a bid to cash in on the rebel leader’s clout in the south.
Even as this jolted the DMK’s campaign, led by his younger brother M.K. Stalin, an unfazed Alagiri in Madurai refused to be cowed down by “such threats by some self-appointed leaders in the party.” He accused Mr. Karunanidhi of being “partial” to Mr. Stalin, reiterated he was a “DMK man” and added that he would “approach court and seek justice.”
In Delhi, the BJP declined to comment on Mr. Alagiri’s expulsion, but appeared open to exploring possibilities thrown up by the turn of events. The move shows the DMK’s “intolerance,” a senior BJP leader said, alluding to Mr. Alagiri expressing support to its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.
