Alagiri threatens to resign

Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers, M K Alagiri, is said to have threatened to step down from the Cabinet and quit his posts in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to force the party to oust former telecom minister A Raja, among other demands.

Speculation is that the minister, son of Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and supreme leader of the DMK, has expressed his protest against supporting Raja in the 2G spectrum scam and has given resignation to the party chief here. Alagiri is organising secretary of the DMK. However, the DMK has not commented on the issue.

He has also reportedly demanded action against Poongothai Aladi Aruna, state minister for information technology, for her alleged remarks against him with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, leaked to the media earlier.

Further, he asked the party to curb supporting an NGO, Tamil Maiyam, in organising the Tamil new year programme, ‘Chennai Sangamam’. Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi, younger step-sister to Alagiri, is a managing partner of the NGO and key organiser of the programme.

The DMK, in a meeting of the party’s high command on Tuesday, had announced a general council meeting on February 3.