Karunanidhi urges rebels to withdraw nominations

In a statement here, he recalled the words of one of his mentors and rational party leader late E V R Periyar and said DMK`s slogan is "duty, dignity and discipline" with the last one being the most important character of the party.

"Some persons who have not got the opportunity to contest the polls have filed nominations as rebels or independents, which amounts to attacking the very party which gave them the identity," he said, adding it "hurts me."

He was "moved to tears" by the action of some disgruntled partymen, he said. If the affection they had showered on him so far was true, the only way to prove it was to withdraw their nominations and uphold the DMK`s dignity and discipline, he said.

While Karunanidhi did not name anyone, he was apparently referring to DMK`s Vedaranyam legislator S K Vedarathinam, who has jumped into the fray as an independent after the seat was allotted to DMK`s ally, PMK.