Undeterred by the DMK's decision to expel him, a belligerent M K Alagiri alleged it was taken under "threat" and he would face the issue legally as he asserted he and his supporters continued to be members of the party.
"The decision to dismiss me from the party was not taken by the party president independently. He has succumbed to pressure. I know our friend who threatened the DMK chief. I also know who helped the friend. You will also come to know about it shortly," he told reporters here.
Indicating that he was in no mood to accept the expulsion, Alagiri, who was the DMK's South Zone Organising Secretary, said he had decided to face the issue legally.
"I will file a case... As per party rules, if a member is suspended, he has to be issued a notice. But I was not given an opportunity to explain my position," he said hours after Karunanidhi announced the decision to expel him for continuing to be critical of the party even after suspension.
Earlier Karunanidhi said the decision to expel Alagiri was taken in the wake of the Madurai strongman's failure to reply to notice seeking explanation on his acts of alleged indiscipline which had led to his suspension on January 24.
"Just because I have been dismissed from the party, it does not mean we will leave the party or quit the party...
Whether they dismiss me or not, myself and my party supporters are DMK members. That nobody can change," he said.
He also said (Anna) Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, was a trust property. "It is built out of our hard work. It is equally our property."
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