Chennai: Just hours after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Chennai central railway station would be renamed after former Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramachandran (MGR), former Union minister MK Alagiri has urged the PM to rename the Chennai Egmore railway station after his late father M Karunanidhi.

Former DMK leader Alagiri has written a letter to Modi urging him to rename the second most popular railway station in Chennai after late DMK supremo Karunanidhi.

In the letter, Alagiri has also thanked Modi for initiating the change of name for the iconic station in Chennai.

“We are immensely and profusely happy to hear the news and announcement that the Honourable Prime Minister has named the ancient symbol of Chennai Central Railway Station in the name of Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Bharat Ratna Dr MG Ramachandran. We are grateful and thankful for the same to the Honourable Prime Minister," read the letter.

Alagiri also went on to express his request in the following lines, stating, "In the same manner I humbly request to submit the Honourable Prime Minister to name the famous Egmore Railway Station in the name of Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Legend always living eternal in the hearts of people of Tamil Nadu Muthuthamizh Arignar Dr M Karunanidhi and honour the great leader who lived and parted for the people of Tamil Nadu."

Modi's move to rename iconic structures that serve more of an identity has not only drawn praises but has also been criticised.

But with the dates for Lok Sabha polls expected to be announced shortly, it remains unclear if the move would be hampered by the Model of Code of Conduct that would kick in.

Alagiri was expelled from the DMK in 2014. He has since been attempting a comeback to politics along with his son, Dayanidhi.

The former Union minister for chemical and fertilizers served as the party's south zone organising secretary, wielding influence from Madurai.

However, after a succession battle with his brother and current DMK president MK Stalin, Alagiri was ousted after making unsavoury remarks against his father Karunanidhi and the party.

Soon after Karunanidhi’s death last year, Alagiri took out a rally in an attempt to display support he enjoyed from the DMK cadre.