Chennai:
MK Alagiri, the elder son of DMK chief M Karunanidhi who was suspended from all party positions and membership for indiscipline on Friday, has alleged that there is no democracy in the DMK.
"Is this democracy? I met the DMK president seeking justice after the party suspended five party workers including the Union Chairman of Kottampatti, in Madurai. But they have suspended me," Mr Alagiri, who is popular among party workers in and around Madurai, told NDTV. The five workers, who he wanted reinstated, had been suspended for allegedly putting up posters that were critical of his younger brother MK Stalin.
Mr Alagiri, 62, has been involved in an aggressive and lengthy tug-of-war for control of the party with Mr Stalin, who has been selected by their father as his political successor.
Mr Alagiri had announced in 2010 that after his father steps down as party President, the DMK should hold elections for its top post and that he would enter the race. That statement had forced Mr Karunanidhi to abandon retirement plans.
Asked whether his suspension from the party was an attempt by the DMK to please former actor Vijayakanth, so that his DMDK could join the DMK fold, Mr Alagiri said, "I don't know. But I suspect my father, the DMK President, has been blackmailed by somebody."
When asked if he suspected his younger brother's hand in his suspension, he said, "I don't know."
Mr Alagiri says he will decide on his next course of action after consulting his supporters.
Sources in the DMK have denied Mr Alagiri's allegations. A senior leader told NDTV "Everyone knows what is happening. This is purely a disciplinary action after the party exhausted all possible options."