 "Stalin-Alagiri fight intensifies on streets")
Cadres supporting Stalin burned the effigy of Alagiri in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Across Chennai, Stalin supporters condemned Alagiri with posters which read, “Coward Alagiri, who threatens our 90-year old leader, don't challenge our leader. Hail Kalaignar (Karunanidhi), victory to Thalapathi (Stalin).”
Meanwhile, Stalin appealed to his supporters not to burn Alagiri's effigy. “It pains me to see it and such actions will affect the party's discipline,” said Stalin, who asked the cadres to focus on the upcoming party conference in Trichy.
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The development comes after DMK’s supremo, 89-year-old M Karunanidhi, on Tuesday said his elder son Alagiri had predicted the death of his younger brother Stalin, who was seen as the potential successor of Karunanidhi, before he (Alagiri) was expelled from the party.
On January 24, the DMK had temporarily suspended Alagiri in its own interests.
“Alagiri has been nurturing unknown hatred against Stalin for a long time. He came to my bedroom and complained about Stalin using unsavoury words and shouted in anger that Stalin would die in 3-4 months. No father can tolerate such words. But as I am the party leader, I tolerated that,” Karunanidhi said as he narrated the incident, which took place on January 24 morning.
Reacting to the allegations, Alagiri refuted Karunanidhi’s charges and said he only discussed the issues faced by the party cadres and expressed their feelings. “I also expressed my feelings on how party elections were held and all these issues were discussed with other leaders including Duraimurugan.”
“Not even in my dreams did I think such charges would be levied on me. I will stand by the party cadres. They know me,” Alagiri told reporters in Madurai.