Sibling rivalry in the No. 1 family of the ruling DMK took a violent turn today when two employees of Tamil newspaper Dinakaran and a watchman were killed after a group of people claiming to be supporters of DMK leader M K Azhagiri, elder son of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, attacked the newspaper’s office and set it ablaze.

The supporters, who hurled petrol bombs and stones at the building, were protesting a survey published by the Maran family-owned newspaper on who could be Karunanidhi’s ‘possible political heir’.

The survey “Makkal Manasu” (What people think) conducted by the daily in association with A C Nielsen, gave 70 per cent chances to M K Stalin, the second son of Karunanidhi and just two per cent to Azhagiri, who controls party cadres in the southern districts, and Kanimozhi, the CM’s daughter. The daily is owned by Karunanidhi’s grand nephew Kalanidhi Maran, brother of Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran.

The survey also gave 20 per cent chance to the category ‘Others’ (31 per cent in Chennai). This made Azhagiri supporters believe that Dayanidhi Maran was being projected as the second choice after Stalin.

Madurai police said two computer service engineers, Gopinath and Vinod Kumar, who were trapped inside the building, died of asphyxiation. Several hours later, the charred body of a watchman was also found. Police said 25 people were taken into custody in connection with the deaths and violence.

Elsewhere in Madurai and surrounding districts, Azhagiri supporters continued to set fire to copies of Dinakaran, also blocking traffic at several places. They stoned public transport buses, damaged several vehicles and disrupted normal life.

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