Muthuvel Karunanidhi Alagiri, or M. K. Alagiri, is a prominent figure in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. This comprehensive biography delves into his life, career, family, and controversies, offering a detailed look at this influential politician.

Biography/Wiki

M. K. Alagiri was born on January 30, 1951, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to the renowned politician M. Karunanidhi and Dayalu Ammal. Named after the Tamil writer Azhagirisamy, whom his father greatly admired, he entered politics at a young age under his father’s guidance. His career, however, has been marked by significant challenges and controversies.

Family, Caste & Wife

Alagiri hails from the Isai Vellalar community, a family deeply entrenched in Tamil Nadu’s political scene. His father, M. Karunanidhi, served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and his mother was a businesswoman. He grew up with three brothers: M. K. Muthu (actor, singer, and politician), M. K. Stalin (politician), and M. K. Tamilarasu (film producer), and two sisters: Selvi Geetha Kovalam and Kanimozhi (politician).

His relationship with his father was reportedly strained, with Alagiri feeling that Karunanidhi favored his younger son, Stalin. He married Kanthi Alagiri on December 10, 1972. Together they have a son, Dayanidhi Azhagiri, and two daughters, Kayalvizhi and Anjugaselvi.

Career

Alagiri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Presidency College, Chennai. His political career began early, joining his father’s party, the DMK, and rising to become a key leader.

• By 1989, he held significant influence in the Madurai region, though without an official post.
• In 2008, he led the DMK to victory in three by-elections, subsequently becoming the party’s Organizing Secretary for southern districts.
• He won the Madurai Lok Sabha Constituency in the 2009 general elections and served as the Cabinet Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• In 2014, he was expelled from the DMK.

Controversies

Throughout his career, Alagiri faced numerous controversies:

• A 2003 murder accusation related to former DMK Minister T. Kiruttinan (acquitted in 2008).
• Questions regarding his parliamentary attendance during his time as Cabinet Minister.
• The 2007 Dinakaran newspaper incident, stemming from poll results that favored his brother Stalin.
• Allegations of land purchase irregularities involving his wife (cleared in 2011).
• Accusations of inaction regarding alleged misuse of government subsidies in 2013.
• A 2013 controversy surrounding the timing of his resignation from the central ministry.

Address

Alagiri’s residence is located at 25/4 A, Sathya Sai Nagar, TVS Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Net Worth/Assets

M. K. Alagiri’s estimated net worth is approximately ?35 crore. This includes approximately ?10 crore in bank deposits, ?2 crore in jewelry, and other assets totaling ?18 crore.

Facts

Alagiri is known to enjoy cricket and possesses a collection of cars including a Honda City, Land Rover, Toyota Innova, and BMW.

Family Details