MK points to Stalin as party heir

Just as he (Karunanidhi) had won the ‘affection, trust and respect’ of party founder the late C N Annadurai to be considered eligible for the leadership mantle, Karunanidhi said Stalin had risen in the party through dint of hard work and dedication.

In an interview to television cha­nnel on Tuesday, Kar­una­nidhi countered questions over his elder son M K Alagari’s credentials with the reply that he hoped Stalin would get elected to the top post by a democratic process.

In reply to another query, Karunanidhi said he was being unjustly targeted by the Opposition in the 2G spectrum allocation scam as some kickbacks had allegedly flowed into “Kal­aignar TV”.

“I am not a director or partner in Kalaignar TV,” he retorted. The charges were before the Supreme Court now and it was yet to be proved that a scam had taken place.
Karunanidhi said he was open to the idea of a coalition government, in view of its ally, the Congress, wishing to share power in the state this time. The issue would be taken up after the Assembly elections on April 13.

MP held after clash

The police have arrested actor Rit­ish, Ramanathapuram MP and DMK member, around midnight of Monday-Tuesday following his alleged involvement in a clash with another group in Tiruvadaanai constituency in Ramanathapuram district of Southern Tamil Nadu.

Ritish and five others are alleged to have roughed up some people, aft­er a group of Opposition ­AIA­DMK members had pr­otested over the relaying of a village road.
Madurai District Collector U Sagayam has stepped up his efforts to ensure a free and fair poll in a novel manner.

He has urged college students in the city to send one-line SMS text messages to their parents and friends saying, ‘My vote is not for sale.’