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Tamil Nadu: Sacking of minister
may be precursor of things to come

With assembly elections round the corner, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has directed Information Minister Mullaivendan to submit his resignation from the Council of Ministers.

This follows an alleged attack on an official of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Ministry, reportedly at the instance of Mullaivendan and in his presence, in the minister's native Dharmapuri district on February 19.

The DMK leadership is under increasing pressure from cadres to deny party ticket to controversial ministers and voter-unfriendly MLAs. It is in this context that Mullaivendan's sacking assumes significance.

Party circles are abuzz with talk of a similar fate awaiting some other party legislators, including ministers, particularly in the light of Karunanidhi's decision to field new faces and women for the forthcoming assembly polls.

According to an official press release, the chief minister's direction followed a preliminary inquiry by the Crime Branch-CID of the state police based on a complaint by the alleged victim and his colleagues, who had taken to the streets following the incident.

As per the CB-CID report, Mullaivendan was instrumental in the attack on the official Anbumani, who was reportedly locked up in a guest-house by the minister's henchmen, including official aides.

According to the complaint, the minister had sought to influence the public auction of temple land in the district.

The CB-CID pointed out that Mullaivendan had thus interfered with the functioning of a department not directly under his charge. Dr Thamizhkudimagan is in charge of the HR&CE and Tamil Culture ministry.

This is, however, not the first time that Mullaivendan is caught in a controversy.

Some time last year, he was gheraoed by women cadres of the opposition AIADMK, again in his native Dharmapuri district, after he slapped one of them for allegedly disturbing his speech.

Mullaivendan is only one of four ministers in the Karunanidhi-led DMK government to have been embroiled in a controversy.

Earlier, Food and Civil Supplies Minister K N Nehru reportedly faced the wrath of the Muttharaiyar community in his native Tiruchi following unsavoury public comments made by him.

Youth Affairs Minister Pongallur Palaniswami had allegedly slapped a senior party colleague with his chappal (foot wear) in his native Coimbatore late last year.

Incidentally, this is the first time that Karunanidhi has acted with such firmness on complaints against senior ministers during his fourth stint in office, which commenced in 1996.

This is also the first time in the history of the state that an incumbent Chief Minister had not effected any major changes in his ministry through most of its five-year term. Two ministers, Nanjil K Manoharan and S Thangapandian, died while in office.

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