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DMK infighting : Dayanidhi Maran quits Union Cabinet |
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The tussle in the Karunanidhi family on who is to succeed the Chief Minister and DMK president took its toll at the Centre on May 13 when Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran resigned from the Manmohan Singh Government. Maran sent in his resignation after the DMK authorised party president Karunanidhi and general secretary K. Anbazhagan, to immediately take steps to secure the removal of Dayanidhi Maran from the Union Cabinet. The party’s administrative committee through a resolution said that Dayanidhi Maran’s recent approaches and actions were tantamount to violating party discipline.
Reports say that Dayanidhi Maran had made a telephone call to the Tamil Nadu Home Secretary soon after the May 9 arson at his family owned Dinakaran’s office in Madurai. Maran reportedly threatened to petition President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam if, what he called, the real culprits responsible for the arson were not arrested. Three people were killed in the fire set off by a mob protesting against the survey carried by the newspaper which showed that Karunanidhi’s younger son M.K. Stalin had more support than his elder brother M.K. Azhagiri on the question of succeeding Karunanidhi as his political heir.
In a statement in New Delhi. Maran said he never harboured any ill-will either towards the DMK or Karunanidhi.
In significant changes after Dayanidhi Maran’s exit from the Cabinet, senior DMK leader A. Raja was shifted from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to IT and Communications. Another DMK nominee M. Reghupathy, Minister of State in the Home Ministry was moved to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
In a surprise move, 31 year old Radhika Selvi was sworn in as Minister of State for Home at the Centre on May 18. First time MP from Tiruchendur, she is the widow of Venkatesa Pannaiyar, a rich Nadar caste strong man from Tuticorin district. He had six murder cases pending against him. Selvi denied that her slain husband had a criminal record.
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