Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Madurai Mayor-CM meet plan raises eyebrows in DMK

By R. Ilangovan

Madurai May 10. The Madurai DMK Mayor, C. Ramachandran's decision to meet the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and seek funds for city development works, has surprised DMK frontline leaders.

A sustained demand by the councillors forced him to seek permission to meet the Chief Minister for "discussing the various development works and seeking more funds for the Corporation''. When the Mayor approached the office of the Chief Minister for an appointment, the response was positive.

A fax message from the Chief Minister's cell to the Mayor's office confirmed the appointment for May 14. The meeting, the message added, would be held at her office at the Secretariat. Later another call from the cell informed the Mayor that the meeting was rescheduled for May 13. This positive response from the Chief Minister to a DMK Mayor has surprised the cadres and leaders of both the DMK and the AIADMK.

In fact, when the Mayor's office made the announcement about the meeting, a few district DMK leaders, owing allegiance to the party chief's Madurai-based son, M.K.Azhagiri, expressed dissatisfaction. Senior functionaries of the district unit pointed out it was an open secret that the Mayor had no cordial relationship with Mr. Azhagiri. A few of them even met the Mayor and sought a clarification whether he had obtained prior permission from the party headquarters for the meeting.

But the Mayor, talking to The Hindu, said he had already sought permission from the Chennai Mayor and DMK youth wing leader, M.K.Stalin. Later, he met the DMK president, M.Karunanidhi, to discuss the issue. ``The party chief said the present Government was trying to clip the powers of Mayors'', Mr. Ramachandran said. However, as there was no such attempt to prune the powers, he went ahead with the idea of meeting the Chief Minister.

"I am leading an all-party delegation in which two MPs, five MLAs and councillors are represented. The Chief Minister has given an appointment to the Madurai Mayor and not to Ramachandran, an individual, to discuss the problems of a city''. .He said a few disgruntled elements within the party were spreading canards that he might desert the DMK.

Meanwhile, an all-party meeting here today, finalised the agenda for the meeting. The Mayor presided, but the Commissioner did not attend though he was in station. The 17-member delegation leaves for Chennai on May 12.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Strike ban Bill passed after walkout
• Stalin has 15 days to choose between two posts
• `TN receipts not matching expenditure'
• Govt ready to rehabilitate beedi workers: CM
• Balan case accused surrenders
• AIADMK MP joins issue with women's forum
• Madurai Mayor-CM meet plan raises eyebrows in DMK
• 'Annadhanam' at Sabarimala mooted
• Now, Durai Murugan, Ponmudi exchange words
• 8 file papers for Saidapet seat
• Majestic statue lies sprawling on floor
• 'Videoconferencing only to prevent escape'

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu