New Delhi
May 15th, 2007

Putting to rest speculations about reports of action against him, Union Communications and IT, Dayanidhi Maran, resigned from his post in a late night development. Maran sent his resignation to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, from Ooty, where he has been 'holidaying' during the weekend.

The resignation by Maran, the 41-year-old son of late Murasoli Maran, nephew of Karunanidhi, came under mounting demand within the party four days after 'Dinakaran', a daily owned by the union minister's elder brother Kalanidhi Maran, was attacked in Madurai in which three people lost their lives.

On Sunday evening, the DMK issued a show-cause notice on Maran asking why he should not be stripped from the primary membership of the party. It also passed a resolution authorizing the party chief; Karunanidhi to take 'stern action' against Maran, whose activities the resolution said 'was detrimental to the interests of the party.' The meeting was organized in the wake of Maran conspicuously being absent from the 'Golden jubilee' celebrations of Karunanidhi's State assembly membership last Friday.

According to informed sources, Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu, a DMK veteran and K Kanimozhi, daughter of Karunanidhi are tipped to be the possible replacement. The new IT Minister will assume charge of office after a possible cabinet reshuffle, which is long pending now.

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