Chennai, Jan 24: The dragging sibling rivalry in the DMK Fri took a serious turn because it declared the suspension of former union minister M.K. Alagiri, son of party leader M. Karunanidhi.

The “temporary suspension” comes prior the DMK’s state conference in Tiruchirapalli next month. Political analyst Gnani, however, told that this was “as smart as a permanent expulsion”.

DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan said Alagiri was creating confusion in the party ranks and criticising the disciplinary action taken against some colleagues for “anti-party activities”.

He said the continuation of Alagiri in the party wasn’t proper and would destroy discipline. So, he said, Alagiri had been “temporarily suspended”.

“The members should accept this call taken within the interests of the party and may stand united,” Anbazhagan said.

Alagiri, 62, son of DMK president M. Karunanidhi, 89, is against his brother M.K. Stalin, 60, being elected to the party’s top post.

The Alagiri-Stalin contention has troubled the DMK for an extended time, with Karunanidhi managing to stay a fragile peace.

But with Stalin’s growing clout within the DMK, one of India’s oldest political parties, Alagiri has stepped up remarks obliquely vital of his brother whereas avoiding any direct criticism of Karunanidhi.

Stalin was the Chennai mayor in 1996-2001 and 2001-02. He was also the deputy chief minister in 2009-11.

On Jan 7, Karunanidhi warned Alagiri and others that the party would act against people who defy the official line.

He said such action might embrace removal from primary membership of the party.

In a recent interview, Alagiri, the organising secretary of the DMK in Tamil Nadu’s south zone, had opposed an alliance within the Lok Sabha election with the DMDK party of actor Vijayakanth.

Alagiri’s opposition came when Karunanidhi advocated the alliance. A annoyed Karunanidhi had termed Alagiri’s views regrettable and wrong.

The DMK chief also said that choices on electoral alliances were taken by the party’s government and general council or different relevant bodies.

In recent times, the DMK has taken action against Alagiri supporters in Madurai, thought-about a Alagiri defence.

Political analyst Gnani told “The temporary suspension is as good as permanent expulsion. The temporary suspension shows that Alagiri’s clout among the Karunanidhi family has gone down.

“All of late Alagiri had the support of the party high command and therefore was able to pull some strings. currently it’s the party high command that’s throwing him out.”

According to Gnani, the party was within the “firm control” of Stalin which Alagiri may be able to build any impact.

Gnani doesn’t expect the DMK to form Stalin its high leader immediately.

The DMK, born in 1949, 1st took power in Tamil Nadu in 1969, and once more in 1971. It came back to power in 1989 and later in 1996 and 2006.