Karunanidhi would continue to lead party: DMK

Meeting after the electoral rout and in the middle of a succession battle within, the DMK today announced that M Karunanidhi would continue to lead the party and made no change to its alliance with the Congress.

The 2-day General Council, which began yesterday, also remained silent on replacements in the Union Cabinet for two of its nominees --  A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran -- who quit over the 2G spectrum scam.

"The Dravidian movement continues to be led by Karunanidhi," a resolution passed at the Council said, in a clear message to the warring siblings party treasuer MK Stalin and Union Minister MK Alagiri against raking up the succession issue.

Supporters of Stalin had yesterday vociferously pitched for a greater role for their leader which was resented by Alagiri's followers.

The issue was ultimately laid to rest by an upset Karunanidhi himself who reportedly asked the executive meeting whether they wanted him to step down.

The resolution also recalled Karunanidhi's role in the Dravidian movement and lauded him for his services to the Tamils and the state.

The top decision making body of DMK, a partner of UPA, also chose to remain silent on the issue of its ties with Congress, despite indications earlier that a section of leaders was against continuing the seven-year old alliance.

The relations between the two parties have come under strain after the arrest of Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi in the 2G scam.

The meeting, chaired by Karunanidhi, accused the CBI of 'bias' in opposing the bail plea of Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case.