This is an archive article published on August 31, 2018
Ready to accept MK Stalin as leader if party takes me back, says Alagiri
The remark appeared to be a signal to bury the hatchet — coming days after Alagiri’s remarks that all true followers of his late father were supporting him, and announcement of a rally of his supporters in Chennai on September 5 to prove his strength.
Alagiri said, “I have already said that all DMK followers are with me. On September 5, you will witness the huge participation of cadres in my rally, there will be not less than 5 lakh people.”
M K Alagiri, late M Karunanidhi’s son and elder brother of DMK chief M K Stalin, on Thursday said that he is ready to accept Stalin as his leader if he is reinstated in the party.
The remark appeared to be a signal to bury the hatchet — coming days after Alagiri’s remarks that all true followers of his late father were supporting him, and announcement of a rally of his supporters in Chennai on September 5 to prove his strength.
Speaking to the media in Madurai on Thursday, Alagiri said, “I have already said that all DMK followers are with me. On September 5, you will witness the huge participation of cadres in my rally, there will be not less than 5 lakh people.” He added that he was intervening in party affairs to save it.
When asked if he would accept Stalin’s leadership if he is taken back in the party, he said he was always ready to join the party. “But they are not ready to take me back,” he said.
Alagiri, a former Union minister, said he hadn’t demanded any position for his son from Stalin. When asked if he would accept Stalin as a leader if he is reinstated, Alagiri said: “If he takes me back, I will definitely accept him as my leader.”
In March 2014, Alagiri was expelled as the DMK’s south zone organisational secretary after his repeated “anti-party activities”, including attacks on the leadership. Karunanidhi was forced to take action as his attacks on the party had escalated ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
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“Despite having been already suspended from the party, M K Alagiri is dismissed from the DMK as he continued to violate party discipline,” said an official statement. With the long-standing feud and public statements against Stalin playing a major role in his expulsion, Alagiri also accused Karunanidhi of being partial to Stalin.
Leaders close to Stalin said the party was unlikely to take back Alagiri. “Stalin is unlikely to reinstate Alagiri in the party as it would worsen the situation at a time the party is preparing for two bypolls and Lok Sabha elections. If he is reinstated, the top leadership fears that Alagiri will also demand a key post for his son,” said a leader.
Another leader said that Alagiri made the statement as he had realised that he could not mobilise even 5,000 people for his rally. “If at all Stalin changes his mind, he will not reinstate Alagiri before September 5.”
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
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Alagiri said, “I have already said that all DMK followers are with me. On September 5, you will witness the huge participation of cadres in my rally, there will be not less than 5 lakh people.”
