CHENNAI: DMK Madurai strongman M K Alagiri might have convinced his father and party patriarch M Karunanidhi not to snap ties with the Congress, but his real test of mettle would be how he handles his long-time coterie that has suddenly developed political aspirations.
His close aides like Madurai’s deputy mayor P M Mannan, I Mubaraq Manthiri, S R Gobi, ‘Karate’ Siva, Karthikeyan, ‘Ochu’ Balu, Udaya Kumar, Ibrahim Sultan Sait and Pottu Suresh have already filed applications seeking tickets for the April 13 Assembly election.
Their persistent demand for nominations as a reward for their loyalty towards him through thick and thin over the years has put Alagiri on a sticky wicket, as there is pressure from party old-timers too, who want only “deserving candidates” as nominees.
Some of his aides, however, were charged in the murder of former highway minister T Kiruttinan and subsequently acquitted. They were with him in the previous polls too. And now, they seek their pound of flesh.
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