Maran's future now at the mercy of DMK

Chennai, May 13: The rise and fall of Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran seemed to have followed the dictum 'what goes up must come down.' Mr Maran, the grand nephew of DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, incurred his (Karunanidhi's) wrath in the wake of his unexpected direct confrontation with the patriach's elder son M K Azhagiri when the office of Tamil daily 'Dinakaran' at Madurai was attacked on May 9 killing three employees.

Mr Maran has stake in the Dinakaran Group of Publications, along with his brother Kalanidhi Maran. The controversy started over the publication of an opinion poll by Dinakaran daily on Mr Karunanidhi's political heir.

The trouble began when the Maran family's private channel SUN TV's news bulletin directly named Mr Azhagiri for the attack on the Dinakaran office. Mr Azhagiri then served a legal notice to Maran Brothers and others threatening to sue them if the SUN TV did not stop holding him the responsibility for the attack.

Even as the journalists organisations held protest rallies condemning the attack on Dinakaran office, the drama attained political overtones as Mr Dayanidhi Maran happened to be a key Minister from Tamil Nadu in the Union Cabinet.

With Dayanidhi Maran himself not venturing to clear the air, a section of DMK party men's grouse against Mr Maran being given a Cabinet berth surfaced again.

This resulted in the administrative committee meeting of the ruling DMK, which passed a resolution demanding that Mr Maran be removed from the Cabinet besides issuing a showcause notice to him.

It might be recalled that Mr Maran was brought into the limelight by Mr Karunanidhi himself during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Mr Maran stepped into his father and former Union Minister Late Murasoli Maran's shoes contesting from Central Madras Lok Sabha constituency from where his father was repeatedly elected to the Lok Sabha. Not only did Mr Maran win with an overwhelming majority, he was also given a key portfolio of Communications and Information Technology in the UPA Government at the Centre. Mr Maran went on to be the 'bridge' between the Centre and the DMK-led DPA which was formed in Tamil Nadu during the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Maran led from the front for Tamil Nadu's development, bringing in investment from many foreign companies.

The fallout between Mr Maran and Mr Karunanidhi was almost immediate after the Madurai incident. The unforeseen developments at the historic temple city of Madurai, have now put an abrupt end to his rise.

Meanwhile, Mr Dayanidhi's absence in the function to mark Mr Karunanidhi's 50 years in the legislature was conspicuous.

He merely called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chair Person Sonia Gandhi when they arrived at Chennai Airport to attend the public felicitation function. Mr Maran did not attend the function.

UNI