THE DMK lost eight of the 10 seats in Madurai district — considered the stronghold of M Karunanidhi’s elder son, M Alagiri.
“Alagiri did not do anything to defeat the party. But we all know that if he had worked in the elections, DMK would have won at least six seats. He did not celebrate, but he hopes the party will realise his value,” said a close aide of Alagiri.
Speaking to The Indian Express last week, Alagiri had said he would not vote for any party this time.
According to his close aides, Alagiri kept kept his word.
Alagiri’s supporters are reported to have worked hard to defeat the DMK in two constituencies — they succeeded in one.
While the DMK’s PDRB Thiyakarasan won the Madurai Central seat, K Thalapathi was defeated in Madurai West — both the candidates are known to have close links with Stalin.
Alagiri denied any role in role in defeating his father’s party, saying he was not interested in politics now.
To prevent a power struggle within the party, Karunanidhi had sent Alagiri to Madurai in the ’80s, ostensibly to look after the party and run Murasoli, the DMK mouthpiece.
The Madurai seats in which the DMK was defeated today included Madurai East, South, North and Melur, a region which was hit by the illegal granite mining scam during the previous DMK regime. Alagiri’s family-owned company was also reported to be a beneficiary.