Alagiri arrives for DMK meet

Putting at rest speculations about his participation in the DMK's General Council meeting in Coimbatore, senior leader and Union Minister M K Alagiri arrived today for the crucial gathering, set to discuss the party's strained ties with Congress and other issues.

Putting at rest speculations about his participation in the DMK's General Council meeting in Coimbatore, senior leader and union minister M K Alagiri arrived on Saturday for the crucial gathering, set to discuss the party's strained ties with Congress and other issues.

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Speculations were rife that Alagiri, elder son of DMK President M Karunanidhi, may boycott the meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, following reports that a section in the party wanted elevation of his younger brother M K Stalin to pave way for him to take over the mantle.

Alagiri has maintained that the 87-year-old Karunanidhi was healthy enough to continue to lead the party and there was no need to replace him.

On his arrival in the city, Alagiri checked into the hotel where Karunanidhi is staying.

Alagiri's supporters are upset since their leader's pictures found no place in the posters put up across the city for the meeting of the General Council, the top decision making body of the DMK.

Sunday's meeting, the first after the DMK's debacle in the Assembly elections in April, is expected to give a new direction to the party amidst criticism over first family's domination and strained relationship with Congress in the wake of continued incarceration of Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi in the 2G scam.

Replying to a specific question whether the meeting would discuss DMK's relationship with Congress, he told reporters here "it will also be discussed."

"Everything", including the DMK-Congress relationship and cabinet berths (offered by the Prime Minister) would be discussed at the meeting, Baalu said.