“There is no possibility of compromise until the party unconditionally revokes its decision to dissolve the Madurai urban unit and the suspension of my loyalists,” according to M.K. Alagiri, elder son of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi. Mr. Alagiri, who greeted people on his birthday on Thursday, said his father and younger brother M.K. Stalin did not wish him on his birthday. After accepting wishes and gifts from the party cadre at Rajah Muthiah Mandram here, he told reporters that his mother and other relatives had greeted him.
When his loyalist and former MLA S.S. Ghouse Basha tried to downplay the issue by stating that Mr. Karunanidhi too called up to greet, Mr. Alagiri chided him saying: “Why are you lying?” Later, he turned back to the reporters to say: “No. He did not wish me at all.”
A procession from his house to the venue of celebrations led to traffic snarls. . as his cavalcade moved at a snail’s pace with scores of with people waiting all along the route to wish him on his birthday. At the venue, he cut a mega cake and distributed welfare assistance including tricycles to the physically challenged and sewing machines to destitute women. The backdrop on the dais had a picture of Mr. Karunanidhi feeding him a piece of cake. None of the party’s top brass attended the celebrations. MPs D. Napolean, K.P. Ramalingam and J.K. Ritheesh participated.
Karunanidhi firm
Meanwhile, Mr. Karunanidhi ruled out the possibility of revoking suspension of persons who were loyal to former Mr. Alagiri. Talking to pressmen in Chennai, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “After levelling serious allegations against party's District Secretary and executive members and made the police to take action against them under the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities act, the party can not be a silent spectator.”
