M.K. Alagiri, the rebel leader who was expelled from the DMK, indicated on Sunday that he was not averse to contesting from the Tiruvarur Assembly constituency, from where his father and late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi was elected twice.
“Let us see if and when the byelection is announced,” he told mediapersons during a visit to the town to participate in a meeting to commemorate the former Chief Minister. However, when pressed as to whether he would contest from the constituency as and when the election is held, Mr. Alagiri said he would, if his supporters wanted him to.
‘Not floating a party’
He said he had no intention of floating a party, and would always follow in the footsteps of his father. He reiterated that he was ready to accept his brother M.K. Stalin as party leader and work to strengthen the DMK if he was readmitted to the party. He dismissed as speculation reports that the BJP may attempt to “use” him, given his current stand.
Speaking at the memorial meeting earlier, Mr. Alagiri claimed that many people had been requesting him to contest from the Tiruvarur constituency, and that he had been telling them that he would take a decision if and when a bypoll is announced. “The prospects for victory seem to be bright if I contest,” he claimed.
He said he had received information that some were trying to avert a by-election. Nevertheless, Mr. Alagiri said, he would explain to the people the “injustice” meted out to him, regardless of whether or not he seeks their vote.
Going down memory lane, Mr. Alagiri recalled his childhood days in Tiruvarur and his last visit to the town along with his father during the 2011 Assembly election campaign. “After being expelled from the party in 2014, I did not get many opportunities to meet thalaivar (Karunanidhi). But he knew me well,” he said.
The rebel leader urged the Centre to name the Central University in Tiruvarur after his father.
Mr. Alagiri, along with his son Durai Dhayanidhi, visited the memorial of Karunanidhi’s mother Anjugam Ammal at Kattur to pay their respects.
