Tamil Nadu is agog with expectations of DMK supremo and state Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi unveiling a grand plan for the ruling party’s Tamil agenda in the run-up to the next year’s assembly elections.
Tamilians are hoping the CM will leverage the DMK’s close ties with UPA ally, the Congress, to secure the pride of place for the Tamil language in official use, even at the Centre.
Indications from top DMK leaders are that the five-day World Classical Tamil Conference that begins on Wednesday in this town would be an ideal platform for the Karunanidhi to further legitimise two of the DMK’s long-standing demands — making Tamil an official language used by the Centre and to allow the use of Tamil in the Madras HC proceedings.
Party sources dismissed speculation that the CM would make some dramatic announcement on his retirement plans and pave the way for the ascendancy of his younger son and deputy CM M.K. Stalin.
Opposition AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa has criticised the holding of the conference, questioning the usefulness of the event when thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka were facing a wretched life.
{{/usCountry}}Opposition AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa has criticised the holding of the conference, questioning the usefulness of the event when thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka were facing a wretched life.
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