I have no plans to quit DMK, says M K Alagiri

MADURAI: Amid speculations that he may float his own outfit, suspended DMK leader M K Alagiri today said he did not have any plan to quit the party even if he was forced out.

"Even if they expel me, I don't intend to go out," Alagiri, son of party president M Karunanidhi, told reporters at the airport here returning from visits to Delhi and Chennai where he met several leaders.

However, the disgruntled leader said he would soon hold a consultative meeting with his supporters here to take a decision on his next step.

The former Union minister, suspended for anti-party activities, is cut up with the party leadership as DMK has not only denied a ticket to him for the Lok Sabha polls but also dumped his loyalists, triggering speculations that he may form his own party.

Madurai-based Alagiri, the south zone Organising Secretary of the party, has met Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh, BJP chief Rajnath Singh and film superstar Rajnikanth in the past two days.

On his surprise meeting with the Prime Minister, he said it was only to thank Singh for all the assistance and projects that were sanctioned for the development of Tamil Nadu during the UPA regime.

"They could implement the schemes in Tamil Nadu only because we were allies of the Congress," he said.

He said he also requested the Prime Minister to name the Madurai airport after Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, a freedom fighter. Singh, however, had told him it could not be done now in view of declaration of polls.