Maran's re-induction into the Cabinet proves short-lived

Dayanidhi Maran made a dramatic comeback to the Union Cabinet in 2009 after being forced out following a family feud, but the re-induction proved to be short-lived, courtesy the 2G spectrum scam.

The suave, articulate and high-profile leader at the Centre now has the ignominy of being the second DMK minister to step down for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam.

His party colleague and successor in the telecom ministry A Raja and his relative Kanimozhi are currently in Tihar jail in connection with the scam.

Forty-four year old Maran became textile minister when the Congress-led UPA returned to power after the May 2009 General Elections, though he was then tipped to come back to his previous ministry of telecom.

Just two years passed and Maran was in the eye of a storm ever since allegations surfaced that his family-owned Sun TV Network received pay-offs from a Malaysian firm which was allotted 2G spectrum by Maran when he was telecom minister after it acquired Chennai-based

Aircel.

Though Maran was on the defensive, the Opposition parties, especially DMK's arch rival AIADMK led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, had been vociferous in demanding his ouster from the Cabinet.

And his continuance in the Cabinet became untenable after the Central Bureau of Investigation named him in its status report on the 2G scam.

Life came full circle for Maran, who quit the Union Cabinet in May 2007 after the DMK decided to withdraw him from the Union Council of Ministers following a family feud.

The feud came out into the open after his family-owned Tamil daily 'Dinakaran' published a survey on who would be Karunanidhi's political heir.