Will not be cowed down by any flutter: Stalin

PTI, CHENNAI:  Embroiled in a succession war with his estranged brother M K Alagiri, DMK working president M K Stalin today said he would "not be cowed down" by any flutter and vowed to overcome any challenges emanating from within or outside the party.

Stalin made the remarks in a letter to his partymen.

"I was raised by Kalaignar; (I) will not be cowed down by (any) flutter. I will overcome any challenges being created from within and outside the party with the help of the dear supporters of Kalaignar," he said.

His remarks come at a time when Alagiri, expelled by DMK patriarch and their father M Karunanidhi in 2014 at the height of his fight with Stalin over establishing supremacy in TN's main opposition party, has raised a banner of revolt.

The DMK's first family had presented a united face when Karunanidhi was fighting for his life at a city hospital. Alagiri was present at the hospital and was also seen at Karunanidhi's funeral.

On Monday, days after Karunanidhi's death, Alagiri claimed all loyal party workers were with him and that the DMK would "dig its own grave" if it did not take him back.

In his letter, Stalin also said "political rivals" were more concerned about what was happening in the DMK in the post-Karunanidhi era.

"The central rulers (BJP) are sowing communalism and snatching away the state's rights. Political rivals are showing more concern than us to know what is happening in our party in the wake of Thalaivar's (leader - Karunanidhi) loss," he said.