MK Alagiri says DMK will face 'threat' after his Chennai rally, claims he never hankered for party chief's post

Madurai: Expelled DMK leader MK Alagiri on Saturday fired a fresh salvo, claiming the party would face a “threat” after his 5 September rally in Chennai, expected to be a show of strength by him. Days after claiming that all loyal party workers were with him, the former Union minister also appeared to be reaching out to his estranged brother MK Stalin to facilitate his re-entry into the party, saying he had never hankered after any post. [caption id=“attachment_2963308” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photos of MK Stalin and MK Alagiri[/caption] Karunanidhi, who passed away on 7 August, had expelled Alagiri and his supporters from the party in 2014 at the height of his fight with Stalin over establishing supremacy in the party. “You please wait till 5 September, when we are organising a silent rally to pay homage at the memorial of thalaivar (leader)… You will know how the party men accept me and want me there (party),” he told reporters in Madurai. The DMK will definitely face a “threat” after the rally. “Even rivals had appreciated my election work and organisational skills. A section of DMK leaders will understand me at least now,” he asserted. He was apparently referring to his role in ensuring the success of the DMK in by-elections in southern Tamil Nadu during the DMK’s 2006-2011 rule. Earlier, he held a consultative meeting with his supporters for the rally. Indicating a fresh succession war in the DMK, Alagiri had, on 13 August, claimed that all loyal party workers are with him and hit out at Stalin, accusing him of blocking his return to the party. During his interaction with the media on Saturday, Alagiri said: “I never desired for any post when thalaivar (leader) Karunanidhi was alive. Why should I seek any post now? I don’t have desire to become the DMK president…. Stalin is showing urgency in taking over as party president.” Asked about Tamil Nadu minister RB Udhayakumar’s remarks that he was organising the rally to join the DMK, the former Union minister said there was nothing wrong if he joined the DMK founded by late chief minister CN Annadurai and nurtured by his father. Alagiri claimed if he was not re-admitted to the DMK, the party leaders would again face similar defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as it did in the last parliamentary and Assembly polls. “The same situation will continue.” DMK had drawn a blank in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, with the AIADMK sweeping 37 of the 39 seats. It suffered back-to-back defeats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls in 2011 and 2016. DMK has brushed aside Alagiri’s latest claims. The party will convene its general council meet in Chennai on 28 August, where its working president Stalin will be elevated as the party the chief. Alagiri wielded considerable influence in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu and was the party’s organising secretary for south zone before his expulsion.