M K azhagiri- Man of the Moment

AZHAGIRI’S POLITICAL AMBITIONS have always been a subject of debate. Many believe he has always harboured hopes of succeeding his father as the DMK chief. But Stalin hogged the limelight as the secretary of the party’s youth wing for nearly three decades. Stalin steadily rose in the party ranks, becoming an MLA first and then getting elected as the Chennai mayor. He was made a minister in 2006 and is now tipped to take over the reins of the party. On the other hand, it has been a rough ride for Azhagiri, who has not held any party post till very recently. Over the years, he established himself as the backroom boy with control over the southern districts, and made Madurai his stronghold. 

In 2000, the DMK charged Azhagiri with undermining party discipline. General secretary K. Anbazhagan issued a diktat to the party cadre asking them not to have any links with Azhagiri. His fortunes hit a low after he was arrested as an accused for the murder of T. Kiruttinan, a former state minister and a senior DMK leader, in 2003. But it was the attack on the daily Dinakaran’s and Sun TV Network’s office last year in Madurai by Azhagiri’s alleged supporters that changed his equations with the party high command. The paper had carried a survey that said 70 percent of those polled in a state-wide opinion poll favoured Stalin as the DMK chief's political heir. Only two percent of those polled favoured Azhagiri. The incident was a marker in the DMK’s intra-party affairs, resulting in the Marans falling out of favour with the DMK chief, the entry of Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi into politics and the re-emergence of Azhagiri as a high profile player in party affairs.

M.K.Azhagiri, was born in 30Th January 1950 and is the eldest son of Karunanidhi and his second wife Dayalu Ammal. His educational Qualification is a Bachelors in Arts degree and he was an ex bank employee. He is the in charge of Madurai edition of Murasoli, a Tamil daily and the South Zone Organizing Secretory of DMK. 

M.K.Azhagiri's rise has been systematic and his position of Strength today is because of he being Instrumental in winning Three consecutive By elections for DMK from the South, the last being the infamous Thirumangalam. He won the Madurai constituency by 1, 40, 985 Votes  and was largely responsible for the alliance sweeping the south in the recent Lok Sabha Elections. Except Tenkasi, they won all seats from South. 

M.K.Alagiri has recently launched his own website - www.mkalagiri.com  and http://mkalagiri.org/

One of the ridicule recently being floated in Delhi is that he cannot converse in English and Hindi,, which are the Languages of Delhi.  In fact Sonia would have been washing Utensils in a Italian Bakery if not for K.Kamaraj because of whom Indira came to power. And it is because Rajiv was son of Indira, she is enjoyed the fruits of Dynasty. K.Kamaraj did not even know A or B or C or D of English but was still a King Maker. 

M.K. Alagiri has no administrative experience nor did he occupy any imminent political position and so was Rajiv before he became the Prime Minister of India. 

 

One day before the results were announced Madurai was splashed with posters telling the world that from tomorrow Madurai will be remained as Alagiriar District. Such is the belief the DMK cadres have in him. some party functionaries remember seeing him riding an old Lambretta scooter when he landed in Madurai. He was those days leading a spartan life in a rented house. Now, he is brimming with several business interests, besides properties in various places like Kodaikanal. It is said ‘nothing moves without his consent’ in Azhagiri’s turf.

In his affidavit filed before electoral authorities, Azhagiri declared he had bank Deposits  of about Rs.5.51 Crore with a Land Rover SUZ  worth Rs.1,20,000 and a Honda city car worth Rs.1,40,000. He has also declared that he has invested Rs.96 lakh in Dayanidhi Diagnostics,and 85gms of gold worth Rs.1.10lakh. Apart from Cash on hand to the tune of Rs.One lakh,he has immovable properties including agricultural lands worth Rs.75,17,000 and Non-agricultural land valued at about Rs.1.83 crore. He has a house and two flats worth Rs.94 lakh with no loans , the affidavit said. His wife has deposits, cash, jewels and properties worth Rs 2.92 crore. His son Dayanidhi has invested in DTV to the tune   of rs.80000 as a partner and owns a Skoda  worth Rs.Seven lakh.He a;so has shares in Dhaya cyber park Pvt led worth rs.1.03crore,and Royal cable vision worth Rs.Three lakh.Azhagiri said he had no pending cases against him.

Azhagiri has three children: Kayalvizhi, married to Venkatesan, Anjugaselvi and Durai Dayanidhi. All of them live in Chennai. Both Kayalvizhi and Durai have political aspirations. Kayalvizhi’s initiation into politics was at a recent conference of the party’s women’s wing in Cuddalore recently, when she made a speech with papa watching her performance from the crowds.

 Durai, a regular at top city pubs, can be spotted at hot spots. He was a student of Anna University.

After the spat with the Marans, Azhagiri started a Cable TV network in Madurai called Royal Cable Vision and through his son started Film distribution Business also.

A year ago on May 9th, Three persons were burnt alive as a Tamil newspaper office was set ablaze by rampaging followers of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s son, M. Azhagiri, in Madurai  Trouble started  after  Dinakaran, a daily owned by Sun TV headed by Kalanidhi Maran, elder brother of union minister for IT and telecommunications Dayanidhi Maran, carried a poll survey indicating Karunanidhi’s heir. The survey stated that while 70 per cent of the readers favoured Karunanidhi’s younger son M.K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu minister for local administration, only two per cent preferred the elder son, M.K. Azhagiri.

Angered DMK workers loyal to Azhagiri took to the streets damaging vehicles and burning buses. The mob targeted the office of Dinakaran and set fire to the building. While some employees were able to escape, three were charred to death inside the building before fire engines could rush to the spot to douse the fire. The Case is pending with the CBI.

With in a month on June 10th he launched Royal Cable Vision, a cable network . RCV targeted the Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV) of the Maran brothers, which has been reigning supreme in most parts of the state till then. 

In the recent Cabinet Turmoil it is rumored that Congress was interested in having Maran as IT minister and did not want Baalu and Raja. Raju is in Kanimozhi camop and Baalu in Maran camp and in the midst of the tussle Azhagiri and Kanimozhi have joined to minnow the Maran yet again- Rumours. 

Among the major promises made by MK Alagiri to Madurai  are assurances that he would turn the city airport into an international terminus after consulting conglomerates in this sector. He added that flights  would be scheduled to central and east Asian countries through Saudi Arabia which would help ‘Haj pilgrims’ in the city and youth hailing from the Southern districts who were working in Gulf Nations. He has also promised to clean up the Kiruthumal River and Anupanadi channel, thereby ensuring a mosquito free Madurai. He would fix the traffic congestion in the city by relocating the transport corporations from the city to the outskirts after consulting the police and the transport authorities. The manifesto added that he would construct elevated highways in Goripalayam, Kalavasal, Palanganatham and South Gate areas to reduce the traffic congestion further. In order to tackle the high demand for drinking water, he said that he would convert seawater into drinking water which would be brought to Madurai through huge pipes from Ramanathapuram. He also planned to ensure that water ran perennially in the Vaigai River by linking it with the Cauvery. In addition, he said he would sign an MoU with the World Bank to deepen the tanks in and around Madurai to make irrigation facilities available throughout the year. He also promised to increase the price of paddy and sugarcane for the benefit of the farmers. He promised weavers that he would get extra funds from the Khadi And Village Industries Board to increase the subsidy given to them, also adding that he would increase the ceiling limit on electricity usage. On sports, he said that he would invest crores to set up a facility in Madurai. This academy would also train the physically challenged and is expected to facilitate their participation in world competitions. Azhagiri also promised to set up a suburban circular train service along the lines of the Chennai Metro. This service, he said, would connect Dindigul and Virudhunagar with Madurai.

Azhagiri’s Son - M K DURAI DAYANIDHI (son, 22) : 

Political Experience: None so far
Strengths: My parents. They encourage me in everything. Even if I make a mistake, they pinpoint and keep correcting me till I become perfect.
Talents: I gel with all kinds of people. I have acquired my father’s organisational skills. Like him, I want to be a perfect organiser.
Social Habits: I hang out with my friends more than my family. I have friends everywhere as bonding comes naturally to me.
Gadgets: I keep changing my mobiles every two months. At present, I have a Nokia E-90 communicator. I carry around a Sony VAIO notebook and an iPod.
Fitness: After a major accident three years back, I am not focussing on fitness. I used to play badminton and I still play cricket as an opening batsman.
Religion: I am an atheist from the beginning.
Dress Code: Anything that fits properly. I like formals. No loyalty to any brand.
Holidays: Every New Year, I am out of the country with a select group of friends. Every May, we are in Kodaikanal. The family is addicted to Kodai.
Ambition: None in particular. Would like to excel in any business I do.
Politics: Like my father, I would prefer to be behind the scenes and help people. Everyone wants me to get into politics. But I want Dad to get into active politics and help more people.

Azhagiri’s Daughter - M K KAYALVIZHI (daughter, 33) : 

Her name last year, did the rounds as a possible Rajya Sabha candidate. Didn’t come through, but don’t rule out a political future .

Strengths: My family. Apart from my father and husband, Dayalu Amma, my grandmother who brought me up is my greatest strength.
Talents: Writing, mostly unpublished. I do have a collection of poetry and stories. I don’t force myself to write. At times, when I feel like writing, I leave all other work and take time to be alone and write spontaneously. Maybe, I should get it published. Was a hockey and basketball player in college (Lady Doak, Madurai).
Social Habits: Enjoy going out with friends for a walk or for fresh juices. I like to teach my son in the evenings. I do attend functions — basically social, not political — on invitation.
Gadgets: Nokia N91 8GB. For the music part of it. I have always preferred Nokia. Plug into my iPod while going out.
Fitness: Walks in Thiruvanmiyur beach and Theosophical Society. I love cooking and am good at preparing fish curry.
Religion: Every person has a belief. If people want to pray, let them pray. Individuals are free to follow any religion.
Dress Code: I like traditional costumes and jewellery. I prefer wearing sarees to western clothing. Maybe because I spent my childhood under the care and guidance of grandma (Dayalu Amma).
Holidays: Last year, we went to Switzerland and had a great time. Would like to travel to Australia. In India, appa used to take us to Kodaikanal, Thekkady and Top Slips often. Kodai is my favorite.[Source:Tamilinfoservice, Tehelka, the Hindu, New India Express, rediff, self]