Spectrum blow: Karunanidhi cabinet resigns

Chennai, May 13: Facing a rout in the Assembly polls with his bitter political foe AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa storming back to power, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today (May 13) submitted the resignation of his ministry.

Conceding defeat without waiting for the final tally, Karunanidhi submitted the resignation of Council of Ministers as trends showed that the AIADMK-led front was poised for a landslide win.

Governor S S Barnala accepted the resignation of Karunanidhi and his Council of Ministers (with effect) from this afternoon, a Raj Bhavan communique said.

The Governor has requested Karunanidhi and the present Council of Ministers to function until alternative arrangements were made, it said.

Accepting the resignation of Karunanidhi and his council of Ministers in the wake of DMK's imminent defeat, Barnala today asked the 87 year-old leader and his colleagues to continue functioning in the present capacity as he appreciated the advice and co-operation offered by the DMK President.

"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation of the advice and co-operation offered to me by you throughout our association," Barnala said in a letter to Karunanidhi.

Karunanidhi and his council of ministers had resigned after the AIADMK-led front took an unassailable lead against DMK and its allies today.

Barnala said he was accepting the resignation of Karunanidhi and his council of ministers but requested him and his colleagues to "function until alternate arrangements are made".

"I would also like to say that I have greatly appreciated the personal courtesy extended to me, at all times", he said in the letter.

PTI