Chennai (PTI): Describing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi as "Bhishma Pitamah" of South Indian politics, Union Minister of Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy said "Karunanidhi is one of my political icons in the country." Hailing Karunanidhi as one of the "principal architects" of the UPA government at the Centre, he said "the Congress President Sonia Gandhi has great regard for him."

Laying the foundation stone for a drinking water project under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) here on Friday evening, Reddy was all praise for Karunanidhi and his government for implementing various welfare measures for the people.

"Tamil Nadu is the most progressive state in the country with 44 per cent of the population living in urban areas. The state has implemented maximum number of developmental schemes," he said.