Chennai: Differences appeared to have hit
the top DMK leadership with M K 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 Jan 2
and conveyed his unhappiness over the party "protecting" Raja.
He had reportedly made his offer to resign from the Union
Cabinet and from party post.
He is also 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
Karunandhi`s daughter Kanimozhi.
Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, who was in Madurai,
Alagiri`s stronghold, refused to talk to reporters on the
developments in the party.
Alagiri was also not present in a government function Stalin in nearby Usilampatti.
Alagiri also did not participate in the DMK high-level
meeting yesterday, convened to discuss the party`s electoral
strategy for the coming assembly polls.
Sources close to Karunanidhi and Alagiri however
remained tightlipped.
PTI
