Karunanidhi turns 87, says no to retirement

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi turned 87 and despite grand celebrations, his older son MK Alagiri was missing from the official celebrations at the party's headquarters in the morning. The sibling rivalry between Alagiri, a Union minister, and younger brother MK Stalin have become a repeated and public source of concern for their father.

That could be why, in a departure from his recent comments that hinted at a retirement soon, the 87-year-old, when asked if his party would have a new leader later this year, said, "No... there will be neither any change nor any disappointment."

Sources say Alagiri wants to retreat from Delhi to play a starring role in Tamil Nadu politics. Earlier this year, he said he would offer his candidature for party president if an election is held after his father steps down.

Despite that giveaway, DMK supporters spent the day expressing their faith that their first family stands united.  An elderly man who had come to wish Karunanidhi said, "No there is no such war between the brothers...only the media has created this.... Karunanidhi is the Chief Minister as long as he lives."

Many others travelled hundreds of kilometers bearing crowns and garlands made of currency notes.

Alagiri did attend his father's public meeting later in the day.