The Hindu : Front Page : Kanimozhi, Tiruchi N. Siva, DMK nominees for Rajya Sabha polls

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Sunday, May 27, 2007
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Kanimozhi, Tiruchi N. Siva, DMK nominees for Rajya Sabha polls

Special Correspondent

Kanimozhi

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Friday nominated writer-activist Kanimozhi, daughter of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, as one of the party's two candidates for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections on June 15. The other candidate is Tiruchi N. Siva, a former member of parliament.

Ms. Kanimozhi, known for her deep interest in literary and cultural issues, promised to use the opportunity provided by the party to "work for the issues I passionately believe in." Talking to The Hindu , she said she would continue to raise the concerns of the marginalised sections of society, women's issues and freedom of the press in her new role.

A Tamil poet, the 38-year-old Ms. Kanimozhi started her career as a sub-editor of The Hindu in Chennai in 1992. She worked with the arts section of the newspaper, the Friday Review, till 1997. She was later in charge of Kungumam, a Tamil weekly. She actively took up the cause of freedom of expression on several occasions, including when actor Kushboo was hounded by sections of the political class for articulating views on pre-marital sex. Along with Karthi Chidambaram, son of Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, she launched Karuthu, a forum for free expression of views.

Mr. Siva is known for his debating and organisational skills.

Tiruchi N. Siva

Mr. Karunanidhi, announcing the decision after a meeting of the DMK's high-level policy planning committee, said two of the DMK's allies — the Congress and the Communist Party of India — would field one candidate each for the Rajya Sabha.

Though the biennial elections were to be held for six seats, which would fall vacant in July, the DMK-led alliance decided against fielding a fifth candidate, as it did not want to give any room for horse-trading. The opposition party would field its nominees for the remaining two seats, he said, adding that he had already made his position clear that the Rajya Sabha elections should be free from a contest.

Asked if Ms.Kanimozhi would accept the party's decision to nominate her for the Rajya Sabha poll, he said, "I think so." In response to a question, he said Ms.Kanimozhi was already in politics and that was the reason for giving her the chance to contest as a DMK nominee.

However, he ruled out Ms. Kanimozhi getting a berth in the Cabinet, saying that the DMK and its allies in the State already had 13 representatives in the Union Ministry. There was no scope for any addition.

Mr. Karunanidhi said as the Madurai (West) seat was allotted to the Congress in the last Assembly elections, it was for that party to announce its nominee for the by-poll slated for June 26.

Mr. Karunanidhi declined to comment when asked about the possibility of a patch-up with former Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran. When a reporter wanted to know whether Mr. Maran had replied to the show-cause notice served on him by the DMK Administrative Committee, he said the process was not yet completed.

On the Election Commission's decision to appoint Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta as the Returning Officer for the Rajya Sabha poll, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was not aware if the decision was taken on technical or legal grounds or for political reasons.

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