M.K. Alagiri is welcomed by his supporters in Madurai on Monday.
's attempted detente with his father saw him indicating that he will not launch his own party in Tamil Nadu -not yet, anyway. But the 63-year-old politician made no concessions for his younger brother and political rival MK Stalin, alleging that their father is under the influence of "traitors and cheats." (
M Karunanidhi being harassed by some forces in DMK: MK Alagiri)
Mr Alagiri was in Madurai, an area where he wields considerable power, when he made his remarks on Monday, exhorting his supporters to help "save the party from bad elements." (
Alagiri meets supporters, launch of new party likely on agenda)
Last week, Mr Alagiri was left out of the list of candidates announced by his father, DMK chief M Karunanidhi. That spurred him into a series of high-profile meetings- with the Prime Minister, BJP president Rajnath Singh, and superstar
Rajinikanth. Mr Alagiri seemed to be signalling that his clout, while ignored by his father, was valued by others. (
Discussed personal matters, says Alagiri after meeting Rajinikanth)
Sources in the DMK say his remarks yesterday suggest a search for a re-entry to the DMK, from which he was suspended in January after months of concerted efforts to undermine his brother, who has been picked as their father's political successor. Mr Alagiri urged his supporters to stop mounting posters that declared him as the leader of a new party.
Mr Karunanidhi, 89, will personally start campaigning on April 5. A 16-day tour will see him traveling from Coimbatore to Chennai.
Tamil Nadu, which has 39 parliamentary seats, votes on April 24.
The DMK currently has 18 of those seats. NDTV's opinion poll forecasts 10 seats for the party; the poll shows ruling party AIADMK, headed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, landing 27 seats, 18 more than the last general election in 2009.