DMK chief M Karunanidhi developing on his decision to suspend his elder son from the party said "Alagiri had complained against Stalin using harsh language. He even said Stalin would die in a few months. How can a father tolerate this?"

"I do not know why Alagiri has nurtured so much hatred against Stalin," said Mr Karunanidhi, about the extreme sibling rivalry that has spawned competing camps within the DMK. The next year, Mr Karunanidhi had to abandon his retirement plans after Mr Alagiri made it clear that he would not accept his younger brother as party chief. Mr Alagiri said that an election should be held for the top job and that he would contest it.