Stalin makes a U-turn on resignation

Chennai, May 18: Taking moral responsibility for the party's rout in the Lok Sabha elections,

Treasurer and party chief M

's son M K

on Sunday offered to quit party posts, but made a U-turn within hours after the party high command advised him against doing so.

However, Stalin's decision to resign drew ridicule from his elder brother, the expelled Madurai-based strongman M K Alagiri, who dubbed it as a "drama".

The two were involved in a power tussle prior to Alagiri's recent expulsion from DMK for alleged indiscipline. As the events unfolded, Karunanidhi went into a huddle with senior leaders even as many others including party workers started thronging Stalin's residence, pressing him to reconsider his decision.

Senior leader Durai Murugan later told reporters that Stalin, also the party's Youth Wing chief, changed his mind following advise from Karunanidhi against resigning his party posts and assurance from other leaders that they were behind him.

He said Karunanidhi advised Stalin that there was no need for quitting and that the 'young leader' had to steer the party in the future even as the political stalwart told his son that one should not be bogged down by such defeats.

Other leaders urged Stalin not to take such a "tragic decision," Durai Murugan said, adding, they assured their support to him. "So he accepted our request and leader's (Karunanidhi) advice also and withdrew" the resignation, he said.

He said Karunanidhi had told Stalin the time "was not apt" for taking such decisions and while the party was strong it had many more challenges to face, in an apparent reference to the 2016 Assembly elections.

PTI