Alagiri's September 5 rally an open challenge to Stalin

Not long after the passing of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M. Karunanidhi, a battle for succession seems imminent in the party. Expelled DMK leader M.K. Alagiri has come out openly against his estranged brother M.K. Stalin, who now heads the party. Alagiri said the party would face a 'threat' after his September 5 Chennai rally, expected to be a show of strength by him. "Yes definitely, it will be a threat. I have never aspired for any post in the party, even when Karunanidhi was alive. Stalin is in haste to claim the presidency," ANI reported Alagiri as saying. 

Days after claiming that all loyal workers were with him, the former union minister also appeared to be reaching out to Stalin to facilitate his re-entry into the party, saying he never hankered after any post.

Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7, 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 Sept 5 when we are organising silent rally to pay homage at the memorial of thalaivar (leader)... You will know how the party men accept me and want me there," Alagiri told reporters.

The DMK would definitely face a 'threat' following the rally. "Even rivals had appreciated my election work..and organisational skills.. Section of DMK leaders will understand me at least now," he asserted.

He was apparently referring to his role in ensuring the success of DMK in by-elections in southern Tamil Nadu during the DMK's 2006-11 rule.

Earlier, he held a consultative meeting with his supporters for the rally.

Indicating a fresh succession war in the DMK, Alagiri had on August 13 claimed all loyal party workers are with him and hit out at Stalin, accusing him of blocking his return to the party.

Meanwhile, the DMK party executive, on August 14, made it clear that it was solidly behind its working president Stalin. At the urgent meeting, convened to condole the death of party president and former chief minister Karunanidhi, Stalin asserted himself as the next leader to steer the party.

The first executive meeting of the DMK after the death of Karunanidhi was expected to look at the future action plan of the party and formally elevating his younger son Stalin to the post of party president. However, the executive council, with a strength of around 460 people including the party seniors, MLAs, MPs and district secretaries, while mourning the death of their leader, made it apparent that there are no hurdles before Stalin to lead the party. 

“We are all with you. You have three hearts—yours, Karunanidhi’s and the one heart Karunanidhi borrowed from Annadurai on his death. There is nobody in Tamil Nadu who can defeat you,” party’s principal secretary Durai Murugan said during the executive meeting.

-Inputs from PTI