Stalin snubs Algiri on alliance issue

In an open snub of his elder brother and party strongman in south M K Alagiri amid simmering sibling rivarly, DMK Treasurer M K Stalin today said he welcomed an alliance with DMDK headed by actor Vijaykant for Lok Sabha polls and defended the dissolution of party's Madurai city and district units.
"I welcome DMDK alliance...DMK chief M Karunanidhi himself had spoken in favour of the DMDK alliance," he told reporters here when asked about Alagiri's reported remarks that DMK did not require an alliance with DMDK to fight the polls.
DMDK, which is being wooed by DMK, Congress and BJP, wanted a secular alliance that would help in the development of the state, he added.

DMDK emerged the principal opposition in the assembly, edging out DMK to the third place in the 2011 polls which it fought in alliance with AIADMK. But the two parties turned bitter opponents later with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa regretting the tie-up.
In an indication of deepening differences between the siblings, Stalin said "I don't read such unecessary news items," when asked about Alagiri's views in an interview to a magazine against any alliance with DMDK.
Stalin, who reviewed the preparations for DMK's proposed state conference to be held here, also defended the disbanding of the Madurai city and district units of DMK which owed alligeance to Alagiri.

"The decision to disband the units was not taken in a spurt. It was a well thought-out decision taken by party leader M.Karunanidhi and (General Secretary) K Anbazhagan," he said.

The action came in the wake of a controversial poster put up by supporters of Madurai-based Alagiri, making critical remarks in the context of the party's general council held last month, which he had skipped.
Differences between Alagiri and Stalin are well-known with both sparring on the issue of who is the political heir apparent to Karunanidhi.
While the 90 year-old DMK chief had at times hinted that Stalin could well be his successor, Alagiri had challenged that, saying he would not accept anyone other than Karunanidhi as his leader.

Stalin also said new faces would get chances in coming Lok Sabha elections.