Government says no to M Karunanidhi statue: DMK sources

When contacted, DMK leaders admitted under condition of anonymity that they have not been officially informed of the decision, but they have learnt that the Edappadi K Palaniswami regime was keen on rejecting the proposal and it has advised commissioner of municipal administration to turn down the request on technical grounds.

A senior DMK leader privy to the matter even said, “We might have to move the court again. They have not learned their lessons from Marina,” referring to the nick of the time ruling Madras High Court had passed hours before Karunanidhi was laid to rest on the Marina.

DMK has put forth a request to erect a life-size statue of Karunanidhi next to the statue of Anna on the OSR land in DMK headquarters. In fact, the city corporation had recently adopted a resolution, granting conditional approval to the statue proposal and forwarded the same to the government. The approval of the city corporation led DMK to believe that the ruling AIADMK would not commit the mistake, as it did on the Marina and grant approval without delay for honouring its late leader.

When contacted, principal secretary of municipal administration and water supply Harminder Singh said, “I am not aware of it.”