FILE photo: MK Alagiri welcomed by his supporters in Madurai on Monday
MK Alagiri has been declared a no-go zone by his party, the DMK, which is headed by his father, M Karunanidhi.
The DMK today formally warned its workers of punitive action if they are discovered in contact with the 63-year-old leader.
Mr Alagiri was suspended by the DMK in January for an extended campaign focused on undermining his younger brother, MK Stalin, who is seen as the second-most important leader in the party after their father.
Earlier this week, in what was interpreted as an attempt to propitiate his father, Mr Alagiri told his supporters that he would not form his own party - for now. But he did not abstain from targeting his sibling again, alleging that his father is under the influence of "betrayers."
(In references to 'traitors', Alagiri targets younger brother again)Soon after the party's warning, Mr Alagiri said, "I have never worked against the party at any point of time and wonder why action was taken against me. I was only trying to set right the disorder and confusion prevailing in the party," he said.
(MK Alagiri goes soft after party's warning)Mr Alagiri has represented Madurai in Parliament since 2009, but this year, the DMK has not included him in its list of candidates. His political muscle in the region is, according to analysis, flexed over 10 parliamentary constituencies.
However, sources in the DMK profess that Mr Stalin has been networking in this area, and has managed to eat into his brother's support base here.