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{{Infobox_Indian_politician
{{Infobox_Indian_politician
| name = M.Karunanidhi
| name = M.Karunanidhi

Revision as of 20:21, 21 November 2006

M.Karunanidhi
File:M karunanidhi 20060526.jpg
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
ConstituencyChepauk
Personal details
BornJune 3 1924
Thirukkuvalai, Tamil Nadu
Political partyDMK
Spouse(s)Mrs.Padmavathy, Mrs. Dayalu Ammal and Mrs. Rajathiammal[1][2][3]
ChildrenFour sons and two daughters
ResidenceChennai
As of May 31, 2006
Source: Government of Tamil Nadu

M.Karunanidhi (Tamil: மு.கருணாநிதி) or Muthuvel Karunanidhi generally referred to as M.K (Tamil: மு.க) and Dr. Kalaignar (கலைஞர்), born on June 3 1924 in the Tanjore District, (now Tiruvarur) Tamil Nadu, India, is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is one of the founder members and the present leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)[4] political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the president of the DMK since 1969.[5] He has been the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times (1969-71, 1971-74, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-date). He took over as the Chief Minister on 13 May 2006 after his coalition defeated his main opponent J. Jayalalithaa in the May 2006 elections.[6] He currently represents the constituency of [[Chepauk] in Central Chennai in the Tamil Nadu state Legislative Assembly. He holds the record of winning every election that he fought in his political career spanning over 60 years. [7] He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for 11 times and once to the now abolished Tamil Nadu Legislative Council. [8] He led the UPA in Tamil Nadu to win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections

Karunanidhi began his career as a scriptwriter in the Tamil film industry. He is known for his wit and oratorical skills, qualities which helped his rapid rise as a popular politician. He was famous for writing historical and social (reformist) stories which propagated the socialist and rationalist ideals of the Dravidian movement to which he belonged.[9]He is being widely complemented for his administrative skills though he does not enjoy any big academic back up.

Rediff.com recently referred to Karunanidhi as the Sachin Tendulkar of Tamil Nadu politics.[10]


MLA Terms in the Tamil Nadu Assembly

Represented State Assembly in:

Kulithalai - 1957-62
Thanjavur - 1962-67
Saidapet - 1967-71
Saidapet - 1971-76
Anna Nagar - 1977-80
Anna Nagar - 1980-83
Harbour - 1989-91
Harbour - 1991 (Resigned)
Chepauk - 1996-2001
Chepauk - 2001-2006
Chepauk - 2006-till date

Karunanidhi the Writer

Screenplays

At the age of 20, Karunanidhi went to work for Jupiter Pictures as a script writer. His first film 'Rajakumari', gained him much popularity. It was here that his skills as a script writer were honed. He wrote more than 70 screenplays including Rajakumari, Abhimanyu, Mandiri Kumari, Marutha Naattu Ilavarasi, Manamagan, Devaki, Parasakthi, Panam, Thirumbipaar, Naam, Manohara, Ammaiappan, Malai Kallan, Rangoon Radha, Raja Rani, Puthaiyal, Pudhumai Pithan, Ellorum Innattu Mannar, Kuravanchi, Thayillapillai, Kanchi Thalaivan, Poompuhar, Poomalai, Mani Makudam, Marakka Mudiyuma?, Avan Pithana?, Pookkari, Needhikku Thandanai, Paalaivana Rojakkal, Pasa Paravaikal, Padadha Theneekkal, Niyaya Tharasu


File:Vnj.jpg
V.N.Janaki in the Tamil Movie Devaki scripted by M.Karunanidhi




Literature

Karunanidhi is known for his knowledge in Tamil literature. He has skillfully crafted 'Kuraloviam' for Thirukural, Tholkaappiya Poonga, Poombukar as well as many poems, essays and books. He used his talents as a journalist and cartoonist to bring issues relevant to his political ideology before the public.

Awards and Titles

Annamalai University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1971. Awarded "Raja Rajan Award" by Tamil University, Thanjavur for his book "Thenpandi Singam".

Karunanidhi the Activist

Karunanidhi was instrumental in the Kallakudi struggle to rename Dalmiapuram railway Station. Karunanidhi was entrusted with the task of organizing the struggle. The cadres were divided into three batches, and Karunanidhi lead the batch which lay down on the railway station, blocking the train. They were promptly arrested, the second group also met the same fate. When the third group lead by Kannadasan took its turn chaos broke, the police resorted to firing leading to the death of two. Karunanidhi was lodged in Thiruchirapalli Central Jail.

Even in jail he set up a shadow government, and allocated responsibilities to everyone of his cadres. During his periods in jail (he was incarcerated more than seven times between 1953 and 1965), Karunanidhi read and wrote extensively in prison.

Controversies

His party was indicted by the Sarkaria commission for corruption in alotting tenders for the Veeranam project[11]. However the case was not pursued further.

The Interim report of Justice Jain commission which oversaw the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination indicted Karunanidhi for abetting the LTTE[12]. The interim report recommended that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the DMK party be held responsible for abetting Rajiv Gandhi's murderers. They were later cleared of the charges as DMK was not in power during the assassination and it was under President's rule.

Karunanidhi midnight arrest shocked the whole country.The scenes of a 78 year old former Chief Minister being dragged screaming and kicking, out of his residence at midnight on June 30 2001 shocked the world. The images of the arrest was broadcast on Television which shocked the conscience of the nation

Promoting Casteism

    • Vaiko in an interview has attacked him of calling Brahmin community by slangs.[1]. He also said that chief minister instead of representing all communities is trying to create division in the society by abusing particular community quite often.
    • He claimed himself us elected by non upper castes for non upper castes of non upper castes people in Tamil poem written by him on 3rd July 2006(On his birthday) in Tamil daily Dinakaran. Indian constitution claims that Government is elected by people for people of people.
    • When Tamil actress Suhasini who is from Brahmin community supported Khushboo,Karunanidhi immediately declared that this will help DMK to establish anti-brahmin movement. His alliance partners CPI and CPM has called that statement as unwarranted.[2] Immediately Karunanidhi retracted his statement. Incidentally people from all communities including Kanimozhi who is a daughter of Karunanidhi,Karthick Chidambaram son of P.Chidambaram supported Khushboo.Many leaders from Brahmin community opposed Khushboo's views.

DMK this year

His son, M.K. Stalin is widely expected to succeed him as leader of the party, causing some political opponents to criticise him for attempting to establish a political dynasty. His defenders counter that Stalin has been in the party for several years and has contributed to its growth. His grand-nephew, Dayanidhi Maran, is currently the Union Minister of Communications & Information Technology.

Karunanidhi came to the spotlight again in July 2006 after he threatned to withdraw DMK's support for the UPA coalition following the latter's plans for disinvestment of profit-making PSUs like the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and NALCO. [13]

References

  1. ^ In South India, more the merrier - The Times of India 2 May, 2006
  2. ^ Rama, Ravana battle again in TN - Rediff
  3. ^ DMK AT CROSSROADS Family Above Party, The Preferred Option - The Statesman
  4. ^ http://www.dmk.in/
  5. ^ "Biography in official party website". {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ http://specials.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/25sld01.htm
  7. ^ http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14202776
  8. ^ http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?id=12428&template=tamilnadu&callid=1
  9. ^ http://specials.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/25sld01.htm
  10. ^ http://specials.rediff.com/election/2006/apr/25sld01.htm
  11. ^ http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/06/10/stories/0410223a.htm
  12. ^ http://www.india-today.com/itoday/17111997/cov.html
  13. ^ ""All disinvestment decisions on hold: DMK takes tough stance on NLC"". The Tribune. Retrieved 2006-07-07. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 38 (help)

[A Biography, from TamilNation.org http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/karunanidhi.htm]

Preceded by List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu
May 13,2006–present
Succeeded by
Incumbent

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