As the ongoing war of words in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) intensified on Tuesday, M. K. Alagiri, expelled earlier in the day from the party, charged his father and DMK president M. Karunanidhi with being biased towards the latter's younger son and party Treasurer, M.K. Stalin.
“Yes, I have very strong reason to believe that my father is forced to make statements which suit my younger brother, Mr. Stalin,” Mr.Alagiri told reporters in Madurai on Tuesday evening, to a pointed question from mediapersons.
Asserting that he had done nothing wrong against the party, Alagiri said, “I asked the party president about the suspension of my supporters...Is it wrong? Is it in any way anti-party activity?’’, he asked.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Alagiri, a former Union Minister, went on to wonder why the party headquarters had not “replied to my charges levelled against some of the candidates for the Lok Sabha election. “What prevented them from answering my charges made against some of the district secretaries as well, who have been tarnishing the party's image,” he further posed.
It was under such circumstances that the party general secretary, K. Anbazhagan, had suspended him, Alagiri said, adding, “I will approach the court and seek justice.” “Like thousands of party cadres, the 'Arivalayam' (party headquarters in Chennai) belongs to me too. All my hard work reflects on the sprawling campus,” he maintained.
Claiming that all his supporters were very much with him in the DMK, Mr. Alagiri, answering the query whether he along with his sidelined half-sister Kanimozhi would strive to capture the party, said, “there was no need to capture”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Asked about the correctness on his part to receive candidates and leaders from different parties who met him in the last couple of days, as it caused confusion among the DMK cadre, Mr. Alagiri said, “when some people come to my residence seeking support, I convey my good wishes. I don't see anything wrong in that,” he added.
Meanwhile, in Chennai, when asked about Mr. Alagiri meeting Vaiko and other party leaders, the DMK President, Mr. Karunanidhi, said he had discussed the issue with Mr. Anbazhagan, when they decided to dismiss him as Mr. Alagiri was working against the party's interests.