DMK chief steps in, son Stalin takes back offer to quit

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi and other senior leaders prevailed over party Treasurer M K Stalin to reconsider his decision to quit party posts owning moral responsibility for its rout in Lok Sabha elections, with his brother and Madurai-based expelled leader M K Alagiri describing it as a "drama."

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Senior party leader Durai Murugan said Karunanidhi had advised Stalin against such move even as other leaders had asked him not to take such a 'tragic decision" as they were all with him.

"So he accepted our request and leader's advice also and withdrew" his resignation, he told reporters.

He said Karunanidhi had told Stalin the time "was not apt" for taking such decisions and while the party was strong it had many more challenges to face, in an apparent reference to the 2016 assembly elections.

Stalin had earlier in the day tendered his resignation from all party posts owning moral responsibility for the party's loss at the hands of archrival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the April 24 Lok Sabha elections where it could not win even a single seat.

With Alagiri, who was involved in a power tussle with his younger brother expelled for disciplinary reasons, Stalin had led the DMK's charge in the elections, from handpicking the candidates to finalising the poll strategy, besides embarking on a whirlwind campaign schedule to ensure the party's win.

In Madurai, Alagiri did not seem to attach much importance to Stalin's offer to resign, dubbing it as a 'drama'. "I don't watch or hear unnecessary news. I came to know only from you about his (Stalin's} offer to resign," he told reporters when sought for his response on the matter.

"All this is a drama. He will pretend to give resignation letter. Someone will prevent him. Then the DMK president (Karunanidhi) will say he will not accept the resignation. You wait and see how long this drama is enacted," he said.

Image: DMK leader M K Stalin