ARUN JANARDHANAN DMK chief M Karunanidhi is likely to take back his expelled elder son M K Alagiri into the party soon. A call on the issue would be taken by the party leadership at the earliest and discussions are on to speed up the process, sources in DMK said. The initiative appeared to have come from the Alagiri camp, with party Rajya Sabha MP K P Ramalingam meeting Karunanidhi on Thursday. Sources close to Karunanidhi said he is looking forward to settle the issue as open feuding would further damage DMK’s image. “Both camps have expressed willingness. But definitely Alagiri has to make up his mind to return,” said a source. Alagiri was suspended from DMK in January for taking on his younger brother M K Stalin, when the latter was entrusted with the job of spearheading the party’s Lok Sabha polls campaign. When contacted, Ramalingam, who went public a month ago against Stalin for humiliating him, said it is time for DMK to settle the issue. Confirming that he met Karunanidhi, Ramalingam said, “I met him at the CIT Colony residence without prior appointment. But he extended a warm welcome. During the meeting that lasted for almost one hour, he too agreed that it is high time to settle the issues with Alagiri to ensure unity in our party.” Ramalingam, known to be close to Alagiri, refused to reveal details about the direct talk between Karunanidhi and Alagiri. “They may be having conversations. I don’t know about that. He (Karunanidhi) is 92 and he needs his son beside him to help him out. And for the party, it would be suicidal to keep this issue unresolved when we are preparing for the 2016 assembly polls,” he said. Alagiri refused to comment on the issue. “I cannot comment on the meeting between Ramalingam and the party chief,” he said.
