Democracy dead in DMK, says Alagiri

Stung by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam move to suspend him, former Union Minister M K Alagiri on Saturday charged that democracy was dead in the party and questioned why no action was taken against his younger brother M K Stalin's supporters for pasting posters hailing him as future party president.

Alagiri said he was being "rewarded" for seeking justice on certain allegations made by some workers regarding internal elections in the party headed by his father M Karunanidhi.

He said he had taken up the matter with the party high command which promised a probe but did not act.

"Democracy is dead in the party. On January 31, I will meet the press in Madurai and submit proof (about alleged irregularities in internal polls)," he told reporters in Chennai.

When it was pointed out that he had been suspended for "creating confusion", he shot back saying if pasting posters supporting him was wrong, the same yardstick should be applied to Stalin and his supporters also.

"Is it wrong to paste posters supporting me. They (Stalin's supporters) describe him as future chief minister and even future party president when the party president (Karunanidhi) is alive," he said and asked why no action has been initiated against his brother's supporters.

Asked if he had been suspended for not accepting Stalin's leadership, he said he did not know that but added the action against him was planned one.

He reiterated that he will not contest the coming Lok Sabha polls or field rival candidates to DMK, saying "the party will lose by itself."

Cracking the whip, DMK had yesterday suspended Alagiri from all party posts and primary membership, telling him that his opposition to DMK-DMDK alliance is not going be taken lightly.

Announcing Alagiri's suspension, party general secretary K Anbazhagan charged Alagiri with asking party workers not to work, criticising disciplinary action taken against certain DMK members, "directly involving in improper discussions," and thus "creating confusion."

Asked if Alagiri's suspension would affect DMK and its poll prospects in particular, Karunanidhi had replied in the negative while Stalin denied any rift with his elder brother and described the action as a party affair.