M A I N   N E W S

Alagiri threatens to quit?

Chennai, January 5
Differences appeared to have hit the top DMK leadership with MK Alagiri, Union Minister and elder son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, reportedly expressing his readiness to quit over the party’s “inaction” against former Telecom Minister A Raja.

Though DMK maintained total silence on the issue, party sources said that Alagiri is understood to have written to Karunanidhi demanding stripping Raja of the post of propaganda secretary in the party to repair the damage caused by him.

Alagiri is believed to have met Karunanidhi on January 2 and conveyed his unhappiness over the party’s “protection” to Raja. He had reportedly made his offer to resign from the Union Cabinet and from party post.

Also, he is believed to have asked for the removal of Poongothai Aruna, a minister in Tamil Nadu government, for her “badmouthing” of Alagiri in the conversations that were leaked in the Radia tapes. Poongothai is also said to be close to DMK MP and Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi.

Deputy Chief Minister MK Stalin, who was in Madurai, Alagiri’s stronghold, refused to talk to reporters on the developments in the party.

Alagiri did not participate in the DMK high-level meeting yesterday, convened to discuss the party's electoral strategy for the coming Assembly polls. — PTI