Azhagiri visits Assembly for Karunanidhi fete

Chennai, May 12 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's Madurai-based son M K Azhagiri, who is in the eye of a storm following the Madurai arsom, was the cynosure of all eyes in the State Assembly, as he witnessed Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's special address on the occasion of Mr Karunanidhi's golden jubilee in the Legislature.

Mr Azhagiri was seen seated in the visitor's gallery along with his family members. All those present in the House did not fail to spot him.

He also attended the public meeting yesterday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AICC President Sonia Gandhi and a host of national leaders felicitated Mr Karunanidhi for his unique record.

However, for the second successive day, Union Minister and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran was conspicuous by his absence in the Assembly when the Lok Sabha Speaker delivered the special address. Mr Maran did not turn up yesterday also when Tamil Nadu Governor S S Barnala addressed the House to felicitate Mr Karunanidhi.

Except Mr Maran, the grandnephew of Mr Karunanidhi, all sitting MPs from the ruling DMK, former MPs, MLAs and leaders of various political parties attended the function.

The cold war between both Maran and Karunanidhi families had taken a bloody turn on Wednesday when supporters of Mr Azhagiri ransacked and set the office of popular Tamil daily Dinakaran ablaze, owned by the Marans, killing three of its employees. They were irked by a survey published by the newspaper based on the line of succession in the DMK.

The Opposition, led by the AIADMK, boycotted the function for the second day today.

The entire Secretariat premises was tastefully decorated and the Assembly hall wore a festive look.

UNI