This Article is From Jan 19, 2011

Alagiri, bound for Delhi, denies rebellion

Alagiri, bound for Delhi, denies rebellion
Chennai: After the reported rebellion, firm denials. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Karunanidhi's dissatisfied elder son MK Alagiri has now said he never asks for party positions.

"If they give I will accept it," a Delhi-bound Alagiri said graciously.  

He also denied that he had asked his party, the DMK, to take action against party colleague and former Telecom Minister A Raja, who had to step down after the government's auditor blamed him for costing the government upto Rs 1.76 lakh crores by deliberately mishandling the allocation of mobile licenses in 2008.

Alagiri, who is Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers at the Centre, was reported to have sent in his resignation to his father and DMK chief Karunanidhi earlier this month demanding the sacking of Raja from his party position and seeking a more prominent role for himself in party politics at the state level.

The DMK has denied this and Alagiri said today, "Karunanidhi has answered about reports on my threat to resign."

He would also not comment on the Cabinet reshuffle this evening. "I am not the PM to talk about berths for the DMK in the cabinet re-shuffle," Alagiri said.

After DMK leader A Raja resigned in November as Telecom Minister over allegations of corruption in the 2G spectrum scam, Kapil Sibal was made Telecom Minister- he's expected to continue in that position, along with his original assignment as Minister for Human Resources Development.

Tamil Nadu votes in a few months and Alagiri's reported resignation drama was being seen as a pressure tactic designed to land his supporters more seats for the state elections.

DMK cadres are worried that any battle within the party would seriously affect its chances for a comeback. 
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