M K Alagiri: Man of action,not words

The elder son of M Karunanidhi,Alagiri shifted base to Madurai in 1989 and has maintained an influence over party workers since,despite not being even a card-carrying member. Those who supported him were rewarded with party posts and other favours; those who opposed him,including senior leaders,suffered electorally and allegedly more. This famously led to a rift with his father.

That has changed,largely due to the DMK’s performance in southern Tamil Nadu. Since coming to power in 2006,the party has won a string of bypolls in Madurai and its surroundings,the credit for which was given to Alagiri who organised the cadres for the task. After the Thirumangalam bypoll in January 2009,he was rewarded with a party post for the first time: organising secretary for the south districts.

He had always been a backroom player content to pull strings. Then in the Lok Sabha polls,Alagiri contested,won his first election and went on to become a Union minister. More significant than his victory was the performance of the alliance in that election,among the toughest the ruling front had faced till then. Of the nine seats,the UPA won all but one,with even novice Manicka Tagore defeating MDMK general secretary Vaiko.

As such,he faces the task of securing as many as possible of the 57 seats in the districts under his control. Sources close to Alagiri say he has taken an oath to win all.

The region had been an AIADMK stronghold till recently but the coalition it led was able to win only about 20 of these seats in the last poll. The performance in the LS poll added to the perception that voters have shifted allegiance. After the realignment of coalitions that has the Left parties in the Opposition front along with newcomer DMDK,the AIADMK has launched a major challenge to Alagiri,campaigning and networking neck-to-neck with the ruling coalition. According to local leaders,this is their best chance to cut the DMK strongman to size. “If not,we have to either retire or join them,” says one.

Within Madurai district,there are 10 seats,each intensely competed for. Those in the Opposition coalition claim they have the upper hand in eight,a claim contested by DMK cadres.

Alagiri is always on tour,organising meetings across the districts under his control. He hardly sleeps these days,claims a follower. “He has taken it upon himself to win these seats,and he is particular about delivering results.”

The result will affect his personal life too. The AIADMK’s J Jayalalithaa has stressed that if she forms the government,it would take action against Alagiri and his controversial aides. She probably meant it,having jailed him during her earlier regime after he was made an accused in the murder of DMK leader T Kiruttinan.

On the streets of Madurai,more than Alagiri,it is his aides who are the subject of public ire. Many complain that some people claiming to be close to the leader are ruling the city,grabbing land and holding kangaroo courts.

Another challenge is the Election Commission and a few officials who have withstood pressure and striven to ensure a fair election. Raids are held regularly,including on the homes of powerful leaders,and many including Alagiri were booked for preventing government officials from doing their duty. Alagiri has alleged these officials were biased in favour of the AIADMK alliance. He has sent complaints to EC officials in Chennai and Delhi and,finding no favourable response,has threatened to approach courts.

The three officials whom the EC handpicked have not budged. District collector U Sagayam,police commissioner P Kannappan IG,and SP (rural) Asra Garg have been seizing money allegedly meant for distribution,conducting searches even on the premises of the powerful and booking many for offences. Madurai is witnessing an different kind of election this time around.

The DMK requires its satrap of the south to deliver in order to fulfil Karunanidhi’s dream of returning to power a sixth time. And Alagiri needs to win this election to protect himself from a vindictive Jaya. With a week left for one of the toughest elections of recent times,the bottom line is simple,basic rather: survival.