DMK rules out leadership change; mum on alliance with Cong

Putting a lid on the succession war, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Sunday decided that it would be continued to be led by 88-year-old M Karunanidhi, and gave no indication of pulling out of the United Progressive Alliance coalition at the Centre.

"The Dravidian movement continues to be led by Karunanidhi," a resolution passed at the 2-day General Council Council said, in a clear message to the warring siblings party treasurer M K Stalin and Union Minister M K Alagiri against raking up the succession issue.

Supporters of Stalin had on Saturday vociferously pitched for a greater role for their leader which was resented by Alagiri's followers. The issue was ultimately laid to rest by an upset Karunanidhi himself who reportedly asked the Executive meeting whether they wanted him to step down.

The resolution also recalled Karunanidhi's role in the Dravidian movement and lauded him for his services to the Tamils and the state. The top decision making body of DMK, a partner of UPA, also chose to remain silent on the issue of its ties with Congress, despite indications earlier that a section of leaders was against continuing the seven-year old alliance.

The relations between the two parties have come under strain after the arrest of Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi in the 2G scam. The meeting of the Council, which began yesterday, also did not name the replacements in the Union Cabinet for two of its nominees -- A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran -- who quit over the 2G spectrum scam.

The meeting, chaired by Karunanidhi, accused the Central Bureau of Investigation of 'bias' in opposing the bail plea of Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case.

The Council backed Kanimozhi, A Raja, both lodged in Tihar jail, and Dayanidhi Maran who resigned as Union minister following allegations of his involvement in the spectrum scandal.