'Kanimozhi withdrawn under pressure'

(April 07, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Tamilnadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi had taken a last- minute decision not to make his daughter Kanimozhi as a Central Minister, reports in the media say.

Contrary to expectations, Kanimozhi was not among new ministers inducted in the central cabinet expansion.

Sources have it that it was first decided to induct her (who is also a Rajya Sabha member) into the Cabinet, that too with a hefty portfolio of Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Having this in mind, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, who is in charge of the department was reportedly asked to quit the post.

However, the sudden turn of events over the Hogenakkal drinking water project issue became a hindrance and stopped Kanimozhi from taking charge, it is said.

Karunanidhi thought that making Kanimozhi a minister at this moment would not be received well by the opposition parties which might give rise to the opinion that he had ‘betrayed’ the people of Tamilnadu only to induct his daughter as a Union Minister.

Meanwhile, sources in the Congress camp said that GK Vasan, who is currently holding the post of a Union Minister of State was unhappy with the party’s high command decision not to give him with a Cabinet post.
- Sri Lanka Guardian