A rising star on DMK's firmament

Chennai, May 27 (UNI) For a person who vehemently shunned political spotlight despite being brought up in an atmosphere filled with politics, her sudden entry into public life should have come a shocker.

But for Ms Kanimozhi (39), poet and daughter of Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunaniidhi, her new role seems natural transition though she had all along been content with literary and intellectual pursuits.

It is Ms Kanimozhi who is now being projected as the party's New Delhi emissary in the wake of Mr Dayanidhi Maran's sensational exit from the Union Ministry and the sudden turn of political fortunes.

With speculation rife on Mr Karunanidhi's youngest and favourite child's nomination to the Rajya Sabha, elections for which are due in June-end and even being given a ministerial berth, Ms Kanimozhi, until now a reluctant player in Dravidian politics, is the DMK's emerging star.

Shy, self-deprecatory and soft-spoken, Ms Kanimozhi, daughter of Ms Rajathi Ammal, Karunanidhi's third wife, had shied away from limelight even while being overawed by her father's growing political stature in Tamil Nadu, quietly admiring his literary skills, acumen and leadership qualities.

Having inherited some of his literary talents, she devoted her time to writing poetry soon after completing her Masters in Economics from the popular Ethiraj College for Women in Chennai and like Mr Maran, she is quite at home with English having been schooled at the famous Church Park till her higher secondary.

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