DMK suspends functionary for greeting Azhagiri

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday reacted strongly against a party functionary for greeting sidelined rebel leader M K Azhagiri at Chennai airport.

A statement from DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan, hours after M Ravi, who is the area secretary of Velacherry, welcomed Azhagiri at the airport read, “Ravi is being suspended from the DMK for bringing disrepute to the party.”

Anbazhagan the 96 year-old general secretary of the party is a contemporary of the recently deceased party patriarch M Karunanidhi.

The development comes just a day ahead of a crucial rally being billed as a ‘show of strength’ which is being organised by a sulking Azhagiri.

He is upset with his younger brother and party president MK Stalin for not accepting him back into the party, in spite of his protestations of loyalty and a public statement that Azhagiri is ready to accept Stalin’s leadership.

“MK Azhagiri will teach a fitting lesson to his younger brother. All these days Azhagiri was against Stalin, but now he has openly accepted Thalapathi (Stalin) as the DMK leader. If Karunanidhi was alive he would have forgiven Azhagiri. With bypolls approaching, the party should accept Azhagiri into the party,” opined a Congress functionary in Chennai. The Congress is an alliance partner of the DMK.

PM Mannan, former deputy mayor of Madurai and a loyalist of Azhagiri told reporters that “Annan Anja Nenjan (Azhagiri) will prove his might in Chennai on September 5. Thousands of cadres will throng the capital and arrangements are being made at full speed,” he said.

Responding to Ravi’s suspension, Azhagiri’s son Durai Dhayanidhi tweeted, “Is conducting a peace rally for DMK leader M Karunanidhi an anti-DMK activity that invites suspension.” He also shared pictures of posters put up by Azhagiri’s followers being removed allegedly by Stalin’s supporters.

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