Chennai:
A day after the DMK warned of action against those responsible for putting up "inappropriate" posters relating to party leader MK Alagiri and his brother MK Stalin, their father and party chief M Karunanidhi today said that none of his sons were involved in such activities and blamed a rival camp for it.
"The posters are the result of (action from) a rival camp. I firmly believe that none of my sons would have been the reason for it. Any one who works with the intention of splitting the party will not succeed in the attempt," he told reporters in Chennai.
The posters, which refer to unhealthy competition between the two brothers, were seen across Chennai yesterday, a day ahead of Mr Alagiri's 62nd birthday, and hinted at tension within the first family of the party. The DMK termed the posters "inappropriate" and warned of action against those who have put them up.
The sibling rivalry between the two brothers has never been a secret. Both share aspirations to take over the DMK after their 87-year-old father retires. However, Mr Karunanidhi had recently hinted that he had chosen younger son Mr Stalin as his successor.
The DMK is the largest ally of the Prime Minister's ruling coalition. While Mr Alagiri was deputed to represent the DMK in the union government, his brother has been rising through the ranks of the party in its home state, and is currently Treasurer of the DMK.
When Mr Karunanidhi suggested that he would endorse Mr Stalin for president, his older son responded caustically that the DMK is not like a "mutt" -a religious sect- where successors are appointed. Mr Alagiri has in the past suggested that when his father steps down, he will contest elections for president.
(With Inputs from PTI)