The Hindu : Front Page : Inbathtamilan joins DMK

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Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Inbathtamilan joins DMK

Special Correspondent

Blames Jayalalithaa for the estrangement from his family

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

SWITCHING LOYALTY: Inbathtamilan, who quit AIADMK to join DMK, greets DMK president M. Karunanidhi in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Inbathtamilan, A Minister in the Jayalalithaa Cabinet, met Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M.Karunanidhi at Anna Arivalayam on Tuesday and joined the DMK.

"I was more a slave than a Minister in the AIADMK," said Inbathtamilan, who said that he had quit the post of Sports and Youth Development Minister.

Mr. Inbathtamilan claimed that he was forced to oppose and prevent his father, Thamaraikkani, from functioning as the elected Srivilliputhur Chairman. He was estranged from his family because of Ms.Jayalalithaa, he alleged. In a statement, Mr.Inbathtamilan claimed that he was prevented from performing the last rites of his father because the Chief Minister threatened him. Now his mind was clear and hence he was going to the party where his father belonged, he said.

Mr. Inbathtamilan, who had earlier disowned his father and had said that he would not use his initials, signed off his statement with `R. T. Inbathtamilan.'

Mr.Inbathtamilan was dropped from the Ministry on the advice of the Chief Minister with immediate effect, a Raj Bhavan release said. Sports and Youth Welfare portfolios held by him were allocated to Minister for Education and Commercial Taxes C.Ve.Shanmugam in addition to the subjects held by him.

Lawrence joins DMK

Former AIADMK Minister K. Lawrence also met Mr.Karunanidhi and joined the DMK. In a statement, he said he quit because there was no inner party democracy. The Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Thozhilalargal Party pledged its support to the DPA. Pon Kumar, its president, met Mr.Karunanidhi.

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