Daily News and Analysis
Chennai, May 16: The exit of former union minister Dayanidhi Maran from the union cabinet has come as a catalyst for the rise of M Kanimozhi, the daughter of his grand uncle M Karunanidhi, in the political arena.
Karunanidhi had not bothered to estimate his 39-year-old daughter’s political potential as long he had his son MK Stalin in state politics and the young Maran at the Centre.
But, after the ‘Dinakaran’ attack, allegedly doctored by his eldest son MK Azhagiri, the chasm in the Karunanidhi-Maran family stood exposed.
It forced Karunanidhi to take a closer look at his daughter’s acumen. For one, Kanimozhi was instrumental in bringing unity within the Karunanidhi family — especially between Azhagiri and Stalin — when the Maran brothers were reportedly plotting against the DMK supremo. Insiders say that Kanimozhi, who was against the Maran brothers as also Stalin for allegedly delaying a surgery which Karunanidhi is to undergo, has finally got her due. And that is recognition from the octogenarian patriarch.
After the DMK decided on Maran’s ouster, when her name was floated as the family’s representative in Delhi, Kanimozhi told DNA: “There are convincing pressures from the family, but I have not decided on anything as yet.”
It is learnt that Karunanidhi, however, is not in a hurry to make his daughter a minister, especially after he stated, in the ‘Dinakaran’ aftermath that “there is no place for dynastic politics in the DMK.”
An alternative would be to give Kanimozhi a major role in the TV channel, which the family is planning to float after severing ties with the Maran family which owns the Sun Network.
When contacted on Tuesday, Kanimozhi said: “I would like to play a role in the TV channel. But being an arts person, I would not involve myself in the administrative aspects.” Karunanidhi’s family might consider launching a new channel or have an active association with an existing one.
Even as talks of the DMK planning to give her a Rajya Sabha ticket did the rounds a couple of months ago, Kanimozhi remained studiously silent.
She found herself at the centre of a controversy when she was named the coordinator for Chennai Sangamam, a government-sponsored cultural extravaganza in February. Meanwhile, the DMK is preparing a transfer list of officers who got placements on Dayanidhi Maran’s recommendation.
Karuna's daughter DMK's face in Delhi?
Times of India
Chennai: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday accepted the resignation of communications minister Dayanidhi Maran amid strong speculation that DMK boss and Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi may be thinking of sending his daughter, Kanimozhi, as the family’s new envoy in the Capital.
The ejection of Karunanidhi's grand-nephew from the Cabinet will, in the immediate run, lead to a shuffle of berths among the DMK ministers, with environment minister A Raja tipped to move to the communications ministry. What may turn out to be more important from the point of view of the DMK’s pecking order is the likely emergence of 39-year old Kanimozhi as the party’s new face in Delhi.
Youngest of Karunanidhi’s children, Kanimozhi has already acquired a reputation as a poet and author in Tamil. Both Chennai and Delhi were abuzz with speculation that she may make it to the Rajya Sabha in the biennial elections scheduled next month, as part of the arrangement worked out to keep Karunanidhi’s flock together.
Maran, whose resignation was forwarded to President APJ Abdul Kalam for acceptance, tried hard to mollify the angry patriarch, but to little avail. The former minister, who appeared to be riding high before he incurred the wrath of the Karunanidhi clan, swore loyalty to the DMK boss at a press conference in Chennai. "When I was born I became a member of DMK. Even if I am expelled, I will die as a DMK supporter," said Maran, who on Sunday announced he was stepping down after being told to do so.
Stressing his 'loyalist' credentials, Maran told the packed press conference that he had planned to abolish roaming charges on all mobile calls on June 3 to coincide with Karunanidhi's birthday. He denied that he had "indulged in anti-party activities", and blamed the spat on those who wanted to capitalise on the "opportunity."
Kanimozhi rules out active politics
Chennai: Putting to rest all speculation that she would be joining the Manmonhan Singh Ministry, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi tonight said she didn't have any plan to plunge into active politics.
"I am not joining the Union Cabinet...I don't have any intention to enter active politics," she told PTI when asked whether she would be contesting the biennial elections from Tamil Nadu.
Speculation was rife that the DMK patriarch's poet-daughter would be fielded as the party's nominee for one of the six seats to the Rajya Sabha for which elections are scheduled for June 15.
Earlier reports: