Chennai: Those who know the DMK well and can gauge the emerging post-Karunanidhi possibilities could quickly, and easily, dismiss MK Alagiri's Monday declaration at the Marina as just another rattle of his rusted sabre. But, to the ruling AIADMK, his assertion that the loyal followers of Kalaignar are all with him has come as sweet music and a sure indicator of the collapse of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu.
“DMK is breaking into two”, screamed the front page of the AIADMK organ 'Namadhu Amma' on Tuesday, rejoicing that a succession war has erupted “within just one week of the leader's death”. The DMK is now seized by “anxiety and fear” with the supporters of Alagiri raising the banner of revolt, concluded the newspaper.
After paying floral tributes at Karunanidhi's burial site Monday morning, Alagiri told the media that he had 'submitted' to his father “my deep anguish” and it was about the party, nothing to do with the family. He would explain that 'anguish' in a couple of days, he had said. He was also upset that the family-owned Kalaignar TV was blacking him out.
The DMK executive meeting that took place at the party headquarters on Tuesday dismissed the Alagiri threat as of no significance, with south Chennai party secretary J. Anbazhagan even going to the extent of saying in his speech that Stalin should snap his “umbilical cord” relationship if that posed a threat to the party.
Commenting on the 'DMK splitting' banner front-pager in the AIADMK's Namadhu Amma, DMK spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member TKS Elangovan said, “They (AIADMK) are day-dreaming that the DMK will break up into multiple bits just like their party did after their Amma's demise. True, we are mourning the passing away of our patriarch but that does not mean that the DMK has weakened. The party's wholesome support for Stalin was demonstrated loud and clear at today's executive meet”.
