In a bid to prove his might in Tamil Nadu, despite his recent ouster from the DMK, party chief Karunanidhi’s elder son M K Alagiri on Thursday threw a grand birthday bash in his bastion Madurai. The event, which saw Alagiri cutting a 63-kg cake, mobilised lakhs of party workers.
Despite warnings from the DMK high command, Alagiri loyalists ensured that the city was decked up with huge arches, hoardings, banners, posters, cut-outs and flex boards with Alagiri’s photographs and captions to glorify the “anja nenjan” (brave heart, as Alagiri is called) for his 63rd birthday. They said Alagiri would overcome all problems and emerge victorious. Analysts said this show of strength was intended to send a stern message to the DMK high command that Alagiri still enjoyed the support of a majority of the partymen here.
Since Thursday morning, Alagiri had been welcoming supporters, who converged on his residence from Trichy, Tanjavur, Coimbatore, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Ramanathapuram. Alagiri’s son Durai Dayananidhi, along with his loyalists, oversaw the grand reception organised at a marriage hall. Alagiri supporters also organised free health and blood donation camps and community feasts in temples. DMK members of Parliament K P Ramalingam, D Napoleon and J K Ritheesh met the former Union minister. The trio reportedly said they would abide by Alagiri’s decision.
The Madurai strongman was suspended from the party recently for indulging in anti-party activities. Karunanidhi had said his elder son predicted that Stalin would die in three months, a charge which Alagiri refuted.
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