A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his Chennai residence, political Tamil Nadu saw the first repercussions of the event.
On Tuesday, MK Alagiri, elder son of Karunanidhi and who is a former Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, sprang a surprise by writing an emotional letter profusely thanking Prime Minister Modi for the pleasant visit to his parents and highly praising him for his vision and commitment to the nation.
In a letter filled with emotions and gratitude, Alagiri, who was not present when the PM called on the ailing Karunanidhi at the latter’s Gopalapuram residence on Monday said he was overwhelmed by the PM’s concern and care to his parents.
The PM had also called on Dayalu Ammal, Karunanidhi’s wife who is also not in the best of health. Alagiri said he could not be present at Gopalapuram personally to receive the PM as he was not aware of the visit.
“I would like to personally thank you for your pleasant visit to my parents. I am really overwhelmed by your greatest concern and care to them. As I was unaware about your visit, I could not personally receive you there in Chennai,” writes Alagiri who is based in Madurai.
“Your personal visit and your invitation to my parents to stay with you would certainly rejuvenate their health,” said Alagiri who was expelled from the DMK in early 2014 by the cartel led by MK Stalin, his younger brother.
Alagiri, known as the face of the DMK in southern Tamil Nadu, also waxed eloquence on PM Modi for his ‘vision and commitment’. “I would like to deeply appreciate your vision and commitment for taking the country into new heights,” Alagiri signed off the letter with these words.
The letter by Karunanidhi’s elder son is in stark contrast to the response by Stalin, the patriarch’s younger son. Within minutes of the Prime Minister leaving the Gopalapuram residence of Karunanidhi, the DMK issued a statement asking the party cadre to wear black badge on Wednesday as a mark of protest against the demonetisation of high value currency notes last year.
Alagiri also indirectly conveyed through the letter that all was not well in the Karunanidhi household as the former was kept in the dark about the Prime Ministerial visit.
Since he was ousted from the DMK , Alagiri, addressed as Anjanenjan (Tamil for Brave Heart) has been keeping a low profile. The DMK has not won a single election since the ouster of Alagiri from the party.