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The succession war in the DMK after the demise for former Chief Minister and party patriarch M Karunanidhi has become a full blown affair. Karunanidhi’s two sons – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) working president MK Stalin and estranged son M K Alagiri are now fighting to carry on his legacy and take control of the party.
The rift has become apparent as M K Stalin has filed his nomination for the post of president, which has been lying vacant after the demise of his father M Karunanidhi on 7 August.
Stalin will be standing against his brother MK Alagiri in the party presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on 28 August.
Alagiri was expelled from the political outfit in March 2014 by Karunanidhi, who was the then president of DMK, for slanderous attacks on senior party members and carrying out anti-party activities.
The political battle between the brothers got more intense after Alagiri on 13 August claimed, “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.”
Founded by CN Annadurai in 1949, DMK was a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam that was popularly known as Justice Party until 1944. This political outfit had been headed by Karunanidhi from 1969 until his death in August.
