But of the gloat-worthy events, perhaps M K Azhagiri's acquittal must have come as the biggest relief. 'Pasumpon' T Kiruttinan, a former DMK minister, and considered close to younger brother M K Stalin, was killed on May 20, 2003 while returning from his morning walk. Azhagiri was arrested by the then Jayalalitha government and charged with criminal conspiracy in the murder. The case was transferred to the district and sessions court in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh because the prosecution was afraid of Azhagiri's clout if the case was heard in Madurai where the crime was committed.
Azhagiri, who has no formal position in the DMK but wields considerable influence both in the party and government in thesouth, may now have inched closer to taking over the party from his father after being acquitted. "I told you on the very first day that he was innocent. I can only repeat it today," said Karunanidhi, as he gathered Azhagiri, Stalin, daughter Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi for a happy family picture.
Dynasty Intrigues
Ever since the Marans' exit last year from the family-- triggered by a survey which put Azhagiri at the bottom of the heap in the popularity stakes, the Sun TV family is not part of the rising sun brigade and because of their ill-advised move, certainly as far away from the patriarch as their father Murasoli Maran was close to him--the Karunanidhi dynasty sticks together. Now with Azhagiri in the clear, there is fresh speculation about how long this togetherness will last because all the three children are ambitious. Even Kanimozhi, who replaced former union minister Dayanidhi Maran as her father's eyes and ears in Delhi apparently harbours chief ministerial ambitions and won't be above getting Azhagiri on her side to edge Stalin out. Watch this space.
Some Me Time
What is true is that none of the CM's children have got all the attributes of the father. Great orator, astute politician, good administrator, splendid poet, story teller and script writer are only some of them. Despite being 84 and not in the best of health, Karunanidhi makes time for his creative pursuits. BJP's Prime-Minister.in-waiting L K Advani might find Bollywood falling over itself to give him a special screening of films--even the "no-awards-for-me" Aamir Khan showed his much acclaimedTaare Zameen Par and had the BJP leader in tears-- but with Karunanidhi, a film is shown because he is behind the camera often as the script writer.