Union Minister for IT and Communications Dayanidhi Maran resigned late on Sunday, after the DMK leadership passed a resolution withdrawing him from the Union Cabinet for “violating party discipline” and tarnishing the party’s image.
In a statement, Maran said: “I have never betrayed the
DMK or Karunanidhi, nor will I ever do it. Because I have not been brought up like that by my leader Karunanidhi or my father Murasoli Maran. If removing me from the Union ministry or the party satisfies their family, then so be it.” He said he was grateful to his leader and colleagues for their “support”.
Earlier in the evening,the DMK’s 148-member administrative committee, which passed the resolution, had authorised Karunanidhi to take “immediate and suitable steps to remove him (Maran) from the Central Cabinet minister’s post”.
Party sources said Karunanidhi would prefer reallocation of central portfolios held by DMK MPs over a fresh induction. He may ask the prime minister to give A Raja — now minister for environment and forests — charge of Maran’s portfolios.
The DMK also took the first step towards expelling Maran from the party by sending him a show-cause notice, asking why disciplinary action should not be taken. Apparently the opinion poll published on May 9 in the Dinakaran, owned by Maran’s brother Kalanidhi — which said that MK Stalin was more suited to succeed Karunanidhi than his two other children, son MK Azhagiri and daughter Kanimozhi — annoyed Karunanidhi immensely, and has cost Maran his job.