Stalin's birthday, occasion for Marans to extend olive branch

Chennai, Mar 1 (UNI) In a significant political development, Sun TV network chief Kalanidhi Maran, the estranged grand nephew of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, called on Local Administration Minister and CM's son M K Stalin, who turned 56 today.

The meeting assumes significance as this is the first time that Mr Kalanidhi Maran, son of late Union Minister Murasoli Maran, is calling on Mr Stalin, after the two families fell out over an opinion poll on the heir apparent to the DMK patriarch, published in the Marans-owned Tamil daily 'Dinakaran'.

The stand off had pushed Mr Kalanidhi Maran's brother and the dynamic former IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran into political oblivion, after he was asked to resign from the Union Cabinet in May last. Since then, this was the first time that the Marans have taken the initiative for a patch up.

Sources said Mr Kalanidhi Maran visited Mr Stalin at his official residence 'Kurinji' on the Greenways Road and offered his birthday greetings.

The two leaders were closetted for about 20 minutes.

When mediapersons sought his comment, Mr Kalanidhi Maran, emerging out of the meeting, said ''don't try to project me as a hero. The hero is inside.'' Mr Stalin was not immediately available for comment.

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