DMK patriarch dies at 94

Chennai, August 7 

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DMK chief M Karunanidhi, one of the foremost Dravidian politicians in modern times, died here on Tuesday  after waging a grim battle for life aged 94, the hospital where he was admitted for the last 11 days said.

One of the most charismatic figures of Tamil Nadu politics, whose public life spanned over seven decades, he is survived by two wives and six children, including DMK working chief and heir apparent MK Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP.

Cries of “Ezunthu Vaa Thalaiva (arise leader and come)” rent the air as DMK supporters bearing the red-and-black party flags broke into feverish chants.

Shops and business establishments downed shutters as the news spread.

Karunanidhi’s death comes barely 20 months after that of J Jayalalithaa, his long-time political foe, on December 5, 2016.

The sharp-tongued, quick- witted Karunanidhi was a five-time Chief Minister who wielded considerable influence beyond his own state in the corridors of power in New Delhi — sewing up alliances with both the Congress and the BJP. 

Hugely influenced by the rationalist and egalitarian ideology of EV Ramasamy ‘Periyar’ and DMK founder and the state’s first Chief Minister CN Annadurai, Karunanidhi became one of the most enduring mascots of the Dravidian Movement, which aimed at seeking equal rights for the depressed sections and women, and was against Brahminism.

 Karunanidhi became the CM for the first time in 1969 after the demise of Annadurai. He subsequently helmed the state as CM in 1971, 1989, 1996 and 2006.  

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly 13 times, the last time in 2016 at the age of 92.  Karunanidhi, who earned the sobriquets of ‘Thalaivar’ (The Leader) and ‘Kalaignar’ (The Artist), became the DMK president in 1969 and held the position till his death. — PTI

Row over burial site, verdict today

Chennai, August 7

Hours after the AIADMK government announced its inability to allot space on the Marina beach for burial of DMK leader M Karunanidhi, the Opposition party moved the Madras High Court, challenging its decision late on Tuesday.

Senior counsel for DMK P Wilson and Saravanan went to acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh’s residence and sought permission to move an urgent motion. The acting Chief Justice heard the case at 10.30 pm at his residence. As the Tamil Nadu Government sought more time to prepare its case, the Chief Justice adjourned the hearing till 8 am on Wednesday.

Earlier, DMK working president MK Stalin had written to CM K Palaniswami, seeking space inside the mausoleum complex of the departed leader’s mentor CN Annadurai at the Marina.

A government statement said it was “unable to allot space at Marina beach owing to several pending cases in the Madras High Court and legal complications”.  — PTI