NEW DELHI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Weeks after the death of M Karunanidhi, senior politician and party president of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, his son M K Stalin on Tuesday took charge as the official boss of the party.

DMK is one of the two main parties in Tamil Nadu and is currently in opposition.

"M K Stalin was today elected unopposed as president of DMK at the party's general council meeting," a party official said.

"Stalin has been at the helm of DMK's affairs since the run-up to the Tamil Nadu elections in 2016 and was appointed working president last year in view of failing health of his father," the party official said.

The 65-year-old Stalin is the third president of the party, after C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi.

Karunanidhi died earlier this month at the age of 94 served as DMK chief for 49 years. He was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades over five terms between 1969 and 2011.

DMK loyalists say Stalin exercises full control over the party.

Immediately after the death of his father, Stalin's elder brother and rebel M K Alagiri tried to claim his father's legacy. However, Stalin's supporters described the move as "rhetoric".

Meanwhile Alagiri plans to lead a rally to Karunanidhi's memorial on Sept. 5, apparently in a bid to exhibit show of strength.

The feud between Stalin and Alagiri has shadowed the DMK for a long time but Karunanidhi's presence kept the party intact.