Date:02/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/02/stories/2008030254260100.htm

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Kalanidhi Maran calls on Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

10-minute-long meeting to “clear misunderstanding”

— Photo: DIPR

special day: Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin seeking the blessings of his father and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and his mother Dayalu Ammal on his 56th birthday in Chennai on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Kalanidhi Maran, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun TV network and Dinakaran Tamil daily, called on Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at his house in CIT Colony here on Saturday afternoon.

A source in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam described the 10-minute-long meeting as an attempt by Mr. Maran to “clear mutual misunderstanding,” following reports that his brother and DMK Member of Parliament Dayanidhi Maran was getting closer to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Last Sunday, Dinakaran carried advertisements issued by several AIADMK functionaries on the occasion of the birthday of their leader Jayalalithaa.

The source said Mr. Karunanidhi gave a patient hearing to Mr. Kalanidhi Maran. Subsequently, Mr. Maran drove to Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin’s house on Greenways Road and greeted him on his birthday. Earlier, Mr. Stalin received the blessings of his father. Leaders of different parties visited Mr. Stalin’s house. The Minister cut a cake on the occasion.

Among the prominent personalities who greeted Mr. Stalin personally were, R. Avudaiappan, Assembly Speaker; A. Raja, Union Minister of Communication and Information Technology; Arcot N. Veeraswami, Electricity Minister; and D. Sudarsanam, Congress Legislature Party leader.

His elder brother M.K. Azhagiri greeted him over phone. K. Kanimozhi, Member of Parliament, called on him to offer her greetings.

Senior government officials, including Chief Secretary L.K. Tripathy, went to the Minister’s residence and conveyed their greetings. Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G.K. Vasan; Union Minister of Textiles E.V.K.S. Elangovan; M. Krishnasswamy, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president; Union Health Minister R. Anbumani; and Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary S. Thirunavukkarasar greeted Mr. Stalin over phone.