First statue of M Karunanidhi removed for want of sanction

Earlier, the designated site meant for his burial created a controversy between the Government and the opposition party leading to a High Court drama and verdict. 

Meanwhile, Gudiyatham Panchayat Union party representative GRK Krishnamoorthy created a ripple when he erected a bust of Karunanidhi near the party flag post at Vinayagapuram in the town on Wednesday, the day the DMK patriarch was interred. 

The bust was painted in bronze and put on a two-foot high pedestal. It attracted a group of people who started thronging the spot to pay their respect to the departed leader. When revenue and police officials got word of this, they rushed to the place on Thursday, removed the bust and handed it back to Krishnamoorthy, who later told reporters that he would soon erect the bust at the same spot with due official sanction.

It may be recalled that in 2010, Krishnamoorthy who attempted to build a temple for “Kalaignar” at Samireddypalli near Paradarami was forced to give up his work when the party high command – which espoused rationalism - ordered him to stop this ‘practical devotion’ to his leader.