Expelled DMK leader MK Alagiri’s, the older brother of party chief MK Stalin, rally on Wednesday to the memorial of his father MK Karunanidhi in Chennai is seen as a show of strength against the DMK leadership.
Supporters have gathered in large numbers for the rally which was supposed to start at 10 am but is already more than an hour late. The police have diverted traffic from Anna Salai road from 9 am towards adjoining roads.
Alagiri, 67, had earlier claimed over one lakh people will join the march to Marina Beach. Alagiri’s march comes days after he declared a willingness to accept his younger brother’s leadership if he was taken back into the DMK.
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Reports are also say that the DMK workers tore down posters, paying tribute to the DMK patriarch, put up by Alagiri supporters.
The rally from the Triplicane police station towards Karunanidhi’s grave at Marina beach in Chennai is a ‘peace rally’ or a ‘silent rally’ to mark the 30th day death anniversary of the Kalaignar, according to Alagiri’s press release.
Alagiri, the eldest son of former chief minister and DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, was expelled in 2014 for anti-party activities after he openly rebelled against his father for projecting his brother as his successor. He had said that he would not accept anybody but Karunanidhi as his leader.
After Karunanidhi’s death on August 7, Alagiri, who had been in virtual political hibernation for four years, surfaced at his funeral. He made it clear that he wanted back into the DMK but kept making contradictory statements, alternately lashing out and softening his stance. One day he claimed that loyal DMK workers are with him, the next day he threatened the DMK with serious consequences if he was not re-inducted.
Last week, the former union minister said: “We are ready to join the DMK… It is obvious that I accept him (Stalin) as my leader.”
DMK say there are no plans to bring Alagiri back into the party.
Stalin was recently elected unopposed as DMK president. Within a few days, Alagiri’s tough talk was back. “I am Thalaivar’s (late DMK Chief M Karunanidhi) son, so I will do what I said,” he told reporters on Sunday, when asked whether he would still hold his rally.
In a strong message to him, the DMK on Monday suspended a local leader who had received Alagiri at the airport.