Succession war begins in DMK: MK Alagiri claims support of Karunanidhi's loyalists

Chennai, Aug 13: Less than a week after DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's death, a succession war has broken out in his family over the leadership. The elder son MK Alagiri who was expelled from the party in 2014, on Monday challenged his younger brother and said that Stalin is party's working president only in spirit.

The former union minister, who had been lying low for a long time, chose the occasion of a wedding of a DMK functionary to speak on his future plans.

Speaking to media, MK Alagiri said,''My father's true relatives are all are on my side. All the supporters in Tamil Nadu are on my side and are encouraging me only. Only time will give the answers...that is all I am willing to say now.''

Alagiri and Stalin have been at loggerheads for years now, even before the former was removed from the party over anti-party activities.

The elder son of DMK patriarch was once considered a party strongman controlling cadres and politics from the southern city of Madurai. He won the 2009 LS elections from the city and was Chemical and Fertilizer Minister in Manmohan Singh government. He was slowly sidelined in the party and later Karunanidhi anointed Stalin as working president and political heir.