Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Karunanidhi effects patch-up between Azhagiri men, Mayor

By R. Ilangovan

Madurai Dec. 5. An approach reportedly adopted by the DMK chief, M.Karunanidhi, towards supporters of his Madurai-based son, M.K.Azhagiri, seems to have soothed the frayed tempers of senior party functionaries in Madurai and down south.

A team of leaders, including the DMK Mayor, C.Ramachandran, against whom the pro-Azhagiri group of councillors raised a banner of revolt recently, met Mr.Karunanidhi in Chennai two days ago.

The meeting, according to the Mayor, was "cordial and pleasant". Prior to it, the team, which included three district secretaries, met the youth wing leader, M.K.Stalin. A few of them expressed their anguish at `behind-the-scene' manoeuvres of Mr.Azhagiri in party affairs. He is reported to have given a patient hearing to them. "The meeting also bridged the gap between the leader and the Mayor which gave room for some misunderstanding,'' said a functionary, who accompanied Mr.Ramachandran.

Incidentally, it was the Mayor's first meeting with the leader after Mr. Ramachandran met the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, on May 13 to seek funds for the Corporation.

The meeting with the DMK chief has boosted the sagging morale of the committed cadres and functionaries of the southern districts, who, till recently, preferred to remain on the sidelines following the behaviour of Azhagiri supporters. "Our leader has thus sent a strong message that he is averse to such brawls within the party,'' points out a local functionary.

The supporters of Mr.Azhagiri met Mr.Karunanidhi in November last week and submitted a petition seeking the transfer of party affairs in the South to his son. The petition was a virtual charge sheet against the Mayor. But the DMK chief was said to have remained unresponsive.

A senior leader, close to both the camps, says that the chief was unhappy with a few Madurai leaders who, he thought, "are misleading his son". But Azhagiri men, however, claim that their rendezvous in Chennai failed because it was organised against the wishes of Mr.Azhagiri himself.

The havoc the rift caused to the fortunes of official DMK candidates in the last Assembly elections, in which heavyweights such as Palanivel Rajan, tasted defeat, still rankles with the cadres.

In fact, Mr. Azhagiri came out openly with his intention to contest the Assembly polls, as he was sure that he would be denied a ticket. But he kept away from contesting for reasons known to him. The party high command, however, got him to campaign along with his brother, Mr. Stalin. Since the election, he has kept a low profile.

But the fact remains that a majority of the DMK councillors in the Madurai Corporation, including the Deputy Mayor, the three Zonal Chairmen and the Chairman of Town Planning committee, are his followers. It may be another temporary truce for now, party sources say.

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