Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Chennai Central Railway Station will be renamed after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran, former Union Minister MK Alagiri has written to the PM asking that the Egmore Railway Station be named after his father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Alagiri also expressed gratitude for the PM’s announcement on Wednesday.
“We are immensely and profusely happy to hear the news and announcement that the Honourable Prime Minister has named the ancient symbol of Chennai Central Railway Station in the name of Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Bharat Ratna Dr MG Ramachandran. We are grateful and thankful for the same to the Honourable Prime Minister. In the same manner I humbly request to submit the Honourable Prime Minister to name the famous Egmore Railway Station in the name of Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Legend always living eternal in the hearts of people of Tamil Nadu Muthuthamizh Arignar Dr M Karunanidhi and honour the great leader who lived and parted for the people of Tamil Nadu,” he wrote.
The move to rename the iconic railway station has drawn both praise and criticism from many quarters. However, with the Lok Sabha polls expected to be announced shortly, it remains unclear if the move would be hampered by the Model of Code of Conduct that would kick in.
Alagiri, who was expelled from the DMK in March 2014 following anti-party activities, has been attempting a comeback to politics along with his son, Dayanidhi. The former Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilizers served as the party's South Zone Organising Secretary, wielding influence from Madurai. However, after a succession battle with his brother and current DMK President MK Stalin, he was ousted after making unsavoury remarks against his father M Karunanidhi and the party. Soon after Karunanidhi’s death last year, Alagiri took out a rally in an attempt to display support he enjoyed from DMK party cadre.