PTI
 
Chennai, Oct 1: Hours after the Supreme Court passed strictures on his government, Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi left the venue where he had been observing fast along with DPA allies since morning and attended to work at the Secretariat.

Karunanidhi left the venue after the news about the apex court's strictures on the DMK and his government came in. His ministerial colleagues also followed suit.

Meanwhile, official sources told PTI that chief secretary L K Tripathy had given instructions to operate public transport immediately.

Arrangements had been made to ensure that normal life was maintained in the State. Buses were off the roads only because the crew did not report for duty, the sources added.

The secretariat functioned normally but attendance was thin.

Earlier, reports from various parts of the State said most shops and commercial establishments were closed and Government and private buses remained off the road, subjecting the public to hardship. 
 

Earlier report:

Buses off the Roads, Shops Closed in TN
 
PTI
 
Chennai: Notwithstanding the Supreme Court staying the Tamil Nadu bandh called by the ruling DMK and its allies on the Sethusamudram project, buses in most parts of the State were off the roads and shops in main thoroughfares remained closed.

It was a virtual bandh in the State, with Southern Railways operating only skeletal services. However, autorickshaws and taxis were seen plying in the city.

Chief Minister and DMK patriach M Karunanidhi, along with DPA leaders began a fast in front of the Government Guest House in Chennai, demanding early implementation of the Sethusamudram project.

Centre backs Karunanidhi government 
 
Agencies
 
New Delhi: The Centre will not hurt the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, Union Minister P R Dasmunsi said in New Delhi on Monday. Dasmunsi’s remark came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s structures against the Karunanidhi government in Tamil Nadu. The court told the Centre not to feel shy to dismiss the DMK government, as there’s a “breakdown of the constitutional machinery” in the State.

Hours after the Supreme Court passed strictures on his government, Karunanidhi left the venue where he had been observing fast along with DPA allies since morning and attended to work at the Secretariat.