MK Azhagiri, the elder son of late DMK chief M Karunanidhi, began his silent rally in Chennai on Wednesday, in what is being seen as a show of strength by his supporters. Azhagiri, who has claimed since Karunanidhi’s death that loyal party workers were with him, had earlier said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam would face a threat after his rally to pay homage to his father. He has said over 100,000 people would take part in the rally. Azhagiri is upset with party president and his younger brother MK Stalin for not letting him rejoin the party, in spite of his protestations of loyalty and a public statement that he is ready to accept his leadership. He has been in political hibernation since his expulsion from the party in 2014 by Karunanidhi. The former Union minister was sacked after differences with his father in an apparent turf war with Stalin.