MADURAI: In a veiled attack on the DMK high command, the party’s south zone organising secretary and Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister M K Alagiri on Friday questioned the legitimacy of the show-cause notices slapped on 17 of his supporters in Madurai.The party issued notices to 17 office-bearers of the Madurai unit, seeking explanations on why they skipped a public meeting addressed by DMK treasurer and Alagiri’s brother M K Stalin, during the latter’s recent visit to the temple town. When besieged by journalists at the Madurai airport upon his return from China, the DMK strongman categorically stated, “I can tell you one thing very clearly, there is no rule in the party that the functionaries should welcome visiting party leaders.” He also claimed that the party leadership did not inform him about Stalin’s visit.When a journalist asked him about a meeting organised by his loyalist at a hotel in the city on Thursday, Alagiri responded, “I have just returned from China. I am not aware of any such development.” Interestingly, the usual scenes of his loyalists welcoming him at the airport were missing on Friday, as he reportedly instructed the party functionaries not to come to the airport. Earlier, Alagiri gave the media the slip at the Chennai airport. Meanwhile, party sources claimed that the 17 Alagiri loyalists who received show-cause notices from the high command on Wednesday, have already replied to the party, stating that they avoided Stalin’s meeting as Alagiri’s name was not printed in the invitations.They also reportedly reasoned that ‘their leader’ was not intimated about Stalin’s visit. Besides, the Madurai Strongman was also not consulted prior to the meeting.However, cadre were said to be waiting for Alagiri to take action against the district urban secretary Thalapathi, for making arrangements for Stalin’s visit in the urban areas. Alagiri is known for taking vengeance against functionaries who do not obey him, a senior party functionary pointed out. Recalling an incident, senior leaders said that former DMK district secretary Velusamy was sidelined mainly as he arranged meetings for Stalin when the DMK was in the Opposition between 2001 and 2005. In his place, Alagiri appointed Thalapathi. As a party source put it, “Inner-party rivalry is strong in Madurai, Alagiri loyalists are now trying to sideline Thalapathi.
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