MSN INDIA - What made Maran quit?

MSN INDIA - What made Maran quit?

What made Maran quit?
Monday, May 14, 200711:58 IST
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Chennai: Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran had to resign from the union cabinet as he is said to be up against the women of DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's family.
The women here would be Dayalu Ammal, mother of M.K. Azhagiri and M.K. Stalin - Karunanidhi's sons, his ambitious daughter M.K. Kanimozhi and her mother Rajathi Ammal.
In fact, his resignation letter states he was prepared to accept the party decision "if it gave any joy to Mr Karunanidhi and family".
It was probably one of the most pragmatic of political decisions in recent times after his DMK party served him a notice for "actions detrimental to the party".
In the last three years, Maran had emerged as an effective pointsman for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), one of India's oldest parties and also part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ruling in New Delhi.
Shipping and Surface Transport Minister T.R. Baalu was the DMK pointsman before young Maran emerged on the scene. Maran's rapport with Congress president Sonia Gandhi was as much a matter of envy as was his closeness to the industry.
The suave and cosmopolitan Maran managed to draw investment worth Rs.30 billion into Tamil Nadu alone in just six-eight months. He has proved his capability as a minister and most parties would be proud to have him as a member. So why did Maran have to go?
Kanimozhi's mother Rajathi Ammal has emerged as a powerbroker ever since the DMK came to power in the state on May 13, 2006 and her CIT Road house is where many important decisions are taken. The English-speaking and smart Kanimozhi is a glib communicator and is in the long run expected to emerge as the next pointsman for the DMK in New Delhi - if not as good as Maran, certainly better than all the others.
Maran's exit is being seen here as an opportunity for Kanimozhi.
Then there is Dayalu Ammal, mother of M.K. Azhagiri and M.K. Stalin - Karunanidhi's sons. Azhagiri had for many years been alienated from the family. He was sent away from Chennai, as he was seen as a threat to Stalin, just as Murasoli Maran was sent to New Delhi by the DMK to again safeguard Stalin for chief-ministership.