The emergence of MK Alagiri as the prime mediator in Delhi for the DMK was a surprise to many, as he had only managed to distinguish himself in the capital by his inability or even refusal to communicate in anything but his native Tamil.
Sources in the Congress point out, however, that DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi?s son Alagiri had no problems understanding the implications of a Congress pullout from the alliance. ?There was no communication gap there,? said a senior Congress leader with a chuckle.
Alagiri, DMK sources say, has been handed the charge of southern Tamil Nadu in the division of spoils between him and his brother MK Stalin. He also got a Cabinet berth in Delhi while Stalin became deputy CM.
In the family feud that will break out over Karunanidhi?s political legacy, Alagiri?s claim to the top spot will lie in his strength in the 110 Assembly seats in southern Tamil Nadu.
?If the Congress had pulled out from the alliance, the fight there would have been three-cornered between the DMK, Congress and the AIADMK-DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, actor Vijayakanth’s party). ?Vijaykanth got 8% of the vote in the Madurai area last time and with an alliance with the AIADMK, he is fighting a total of 40 seats in the area,? said a source. All this means Alagiri’s future bargaining power as far as his own family’s feud is concerned hung in the balance. ?Added to this is the fact that this time around the Congress is not keen on urban seats where the 2G scam may have an impact. It is also being said that Stalin has been trying to move from his Chennai-based urban constituency to a more rural one where money power and muscle can be deployed efficaciously,? said a source. Considering these factors, Alagiri took a proactive role in the negotiations. He was the one who managed to convince his father to effect a climbdown after he and Dayanidhi Maran had been told a few home truths by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Whether in Tamil or in English, the message was delivered ? and received.