CHENNAI: Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi on Tuesday charged that Panruti Ramachandran who was one of the Cabinet colleagues of AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran had thwarted the merger of DMK and AIADMK a few decades ago.
Many interesting details about the attempt to merge both parties unfolded at a function got up for the presentation of Kalaignar awards and Murasoli Maran award here. Karunanidhi and DK leader K Veeramani recalled the past in the presence of veteran journalist Solai who was also a party to the talks on the merger of two Dravidian parties. Veeramani said MGR had conveyed his intention to merge both DMK and AIADMK to journalist Solai and later, he had held detailed discussions on the issue with MGR at his Ramavaram Garden residence.
The DK leader said when he conveyed MGR’s intention to Karunanidhi, he said already a couple of leaders had attempted for the merger but they were disappointed. Karunanidhi told Veeramani if MGR really wanted the merger, then he would drop a hint at the Assembly session to be convened two days later. ``As Leader of Opposition, I would not make any serious charge against MGR. After that both leaders met but due to some situations, the merger did not take place’’.
The DMK chief, who spoke later said Veeramani had buried some vital information on the merger talks without which the history would be incomplete. Karunanidhi said apart from Solai, former CM of Orissa, Biju Patnaick acted as the mediator between him and MGR.
MGR had agreed for the merger of both parties on certain conditions and asked him to convey his approval through an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the DMK. But within a few hours, MGR had changed his mind and made a volte face at a public meeting at Vellore. He said the reports about the merger or DMK and AIADMK were just rumours.
``I know who had played spoilsport...I don’t want to name him...but without his name, the history would be incomplete....he was Panruti Ramachandran who had travelled along with MGR to Vellore after our meeting on merger took place at the State Guest House’’, Karunanidhi revealed.
Giving a vivid narration of what had happened on that historic day, Karunanidhi said MGR had met him at the State Guest House . As MGR entered the room where he was sitting, MGR fondly addressed him ``Aandavarae !’’ and enquired about the merger move.
The DMK president said he had agreed to retain the flag of present AIADMK (with Arignar Anna’s bust at the Centre) for the merged party but made it clear that the name of the merged party should be DMK as it was given by Anna himself.
