Hours after his ominous statement at the Marina beach which signalled an incoming rebellion, MK Alagiri tells TNM that his next step is to gather his supporters from across Tamil Nadu and hold a meeting in his bastion, Madurai. The expelled DMK leader and son of the late party Chief MK Karunanidhi, says this would be to discuss the DMK's failure in elections over the last three years and what his future action will be.
Less that a week after the death of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, his eldest son stood at his memorial and proclaimed that he had conveyed his anguish to his late father. By pointing out that television channels associated to the DMK will not carry his words, he made it clear that rift within the family remained unchanged. Alagiri was expelled from the DMK in 2014 by the general secretary K Anbazhagan. He was the party's south zone organisational secretary when he was removed for persistent slanderous attacks on party seniors and anti-party activities. He had taken his sibling rivalry with MK Stalin too far.
And now, back in focus following his father's death, Alagiri points out that the DMK has been failing in one election after another.
"The DMK is not functioning properly. They won just one seat in the northern part of the state in the last assembly elections. And even in Chennai they are in a position where they lose their deposit," he points out, referring to the RK Nagar elections where AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran saw a resounding victory. "So you can imagine the state of the party right now," he adds.
And does he his re-induction as a solution to this?
"I have to gather my supporters from across the state in Madurai and take a decision on what will happen next," he explains.
Alagiri further points out that he has never demanded to be a leader.
"I have never had the wish to become a leader. Even when Kalaignar was there - he gave me an MP post and I said I don't want it, then he gave me the Minister's post and I said I dont want it. I told them to give it to Kanimozhi," he says. "The post of organisational secretary was forced upon me. Perasiriyar (K Anbazhagan) and Kalaignar gave it to me. They told me I have to accept it. They gave it to me after I won the Tirumangalam election. I never asked anyone for it," he adds.
He points out that he has great support amongst DMK cadre across the state.
"Not only the south belt but cadre from all over Tamil Nadu support me," he points out.
He further dismisses allegations and reports that he is considering joining actor turned politician Rajinikanth. The reports followed the actor's visit to meet Karunanidhi in the hospital. Pictures which emerged showed Alagiri and Rajini in a lighter mood.