CHENNAI: The feud within the state’s first family reached new heights on Friday, with Chief Minister and DMK chief M Karunanidhi hurling a number of charges against his estranged grandnephews the Maran brothers, Kalanidhi and Dayanidhi.
For the first time, Karunanidhi openly charged them with trying to create a division among his family members MK Azhagiri, MK Stalin and MK Kanimozhi. He also accused them of indulging in false propaganda against the DMK and the State government.
Writing in DMK mouthpiece Murasoli, along with childhood photographs of the brothers, he said: “I can tolerate any dispute they create within the family, but how can I be a mute spectator when they continuously blame the DMK government and the party?” The DMK chief said a survey, published by Dinakaran, on who would be his political successor caused the first crack in the relationship. The survey showed Azhagiri in poor light.
Another reason was the hasty division of shares held by his family in Sun TV group after Murasoli Maran’s death.
When his family, which got Rs 100 crore, did not agree to it, he prevailed upon them to arrive at a cordial settlement.
Also, when Sun TV vacated its office at the DMK headquarters, it left the place in a dilapidated condition.
‘STOP THE MUD-SLINGING’
THE Maran brothers on Friday denied Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s charges. “Enough is enough...please stop mud-slinging on us,” they said.
In a letter to the DMK chief, Sun TV chairman Kalanidhi Maran said: “If the aim of the latest bout of charges against us is to expel Dayanidhi Maran from the DMK, you need not have launched a malicious propaganda for that. Maran would have put in his papers on hearing just a word from you.” Dayanidhi Maran, who met mediapersons at his Boat Club residence here, said: “The letter is not a ‘counter’ to our grandfather, but a ‘humble self-explanatory note’.