Alagiri, benched by the DMK, now expelled by his father

Chennai: If MK Alagiri's goal was to be a free agent ahead of the national election, he skipped past the finish line today. He was expelled from the DMK by his father and party chief M Karunanidhi.

Mr Alagiri, 63, was suspended in January for indiscipline after a protracted and clanging campaign against his younger brother, MK Stalin, who  has even chosen by their father as his political successor.

Mr Karunanidhi, 89, said today that Mr Alagiri was pink-slipped from the DMK today because he had not abstained from public criticism of the party in recent months.

Without naming his sibling, Mr Alagiri had professed that his father was being influenced and misled by "traitors." That claim was made after the DMK did not include him in its list of candidates for the national election. He represents Madurai in the Lok Sabha. (Mingle with Alagiri at your own risk, DMK warns party workers)

Any conciliatory effect of his declaring that  he would not launch his own party till after the election was over-written by his meetings leaders of the BJP and its allies in Tamil Nadu.

The fraternising suggested that Mr Alagiri and his supporters were not above working against the DMK's candidates despite their demurrals.

Mr Alagiri also recently lent his support to Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. He said he would welcome Mr Modi as Prime Minister and there is a "Modi wave" across the country.  (BJP warms up to Alagiri, who roots for Modi as PM)

Mr Alagiri's political muscle extends across 10 parliamentary constituencies in and around Madurai.