Dayanidhi Maran fails to turn up at Kalaignar's jubilee fete

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran was conspicuous by his absence at a public function held here today to felicitate Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi on his completing 50 years in the state assembly.

Union IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran did not turn up for the gala function held at the Island grounds, presumably due to the strained relationship between Mr Maran and Mr Karunanidhi's families following the attack on the Tamil daily 'Dinakaran' office in Madurai on May 10.

Another reason for the rift was the legal notice served to Sun TV Managing Director Kalanidhi Maran by Mr Karunanidhi's elder son M K Azhagiri, who had threatened to sue him if his Sun TV network did not stop blaming him (Mr Azhagiri) and his supporters for the attack in which three employees of the newspaper died.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Ministers V P Singh and I K Gujral attended the function.

Mr Maran, one key member of the 'Kalaignar' family, was also conspicous by his absence at the assembly where Governor S S Barnala and leaders of DPA partners felicitated him earlier in the day, however, was present at the airport to receive the Prime Minister and the AICC President.

On the contrary, Mr Azhagiri, who was in an eye of a storm following the violence in Madurai, attended the public function and was seen seated in the front row.

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