Karunanidhi's family - 3 wives, 6 children - and love on full display Watch: Three wives, six children - Did Karunanidhi's family become the party? 3 wives, 6 children - Did Karunanidhi's family become the party? On a September day in 1944, while a 20-year-old groom was waiting for his bride, an anti-Hindi rally passed by. “Long live Tamil, down with Hindi,” shouted M Karunanidhi, the groom, and joined the protesters. The bride, Padmavathi, daughter of singer Sundaranar of Chidambaram , had to wait for more than an hour before some relatives brought Karunanidhi back to tie the knot.For young Karunanidhi, who took the plunge into the Dravidian movement as a teenager, the movement came first, family next. Two more marriages and six children later, the leader was slowly growing into a patriarch. Soon after the turn of the 21st century, his love for the family was on full display — in the party and other power centres. This later gave Karunanidhi more than a headache.In his first three decades as DMK president, Karunanidhi said the party was his family. In the next two decades, his detractors said the family was the party. By 2009, several family members occupied important posts in the party and the Union government. M K Stalin remained the chief minister-in-waiting, while his elder brother M K Alagiri became Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers, and daughter Kanimozhi was a Rajya Sabha member. Karunanidhi’s grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran was Union IT and telecommunications minister.Political dynasties have ruled the roost in Indian politics, right from the Nehru-Gandhi family at the Centre, the Abdullahs in Kashmir, the Badals in Punjab and the Karunakaran family in Kerala. But none probably matched the Karunanidhi tribe in terms of size and influence.Nobody in the party or outside accuses Karunanidhi of nepotism when it comes to Stalin, who followed in his father’s footsteps right from his student days. Being Karunanidhi’s son must have helped Stalin become a member of the DMK general committee at the age of 20, but he worked his way up. The Emergency, during which he was arrested and tortured by police, gave Stalin the much-needed political boost.Chief minister Karunanidhi kept Stalin out of his cabinet in 1989 and 1996 though the son was an MLA. Probably he wanted Stalin to learn the ropes slowly and systematically. After all, there was no threat to the younger son’s eventual ascension; Vaiko, the rising star in the DMK, was forced out in 1993. The only other rebellion came from within the family, but Alagiri proved to be just sound and fury.Karunanidhi had shown his paternal concern early. Realising the potential of cinema as a vehicle to politics, Karunanidhi made a vain attempt in the 1970s to launch his eldest son M K Muthu as a rival to MGR who was winning hearts as much on the silver screen as in the dustbowls of Tamil Nadu. Muthu proved to be a decent singer and terrible actor. He bombed.Karunanidhi loved his nephew Murasoli Maran as much as his sons. It was this special relationship that prompted the DMK leader to make Maran’s younger son Dayanidhi a minister at the Centre in 2004 and 2009. Dayanidhi remains in legal tangles including the ‘telephone exchange case’ and the ‘Aircel-Maxis case’.Against the backdrop of the 2G spectrum case and Radia tapes that featured the names of Stalin, Kanimozhi, Alagiri, Dayalu Ammal and Rajathi Ammal, the late political commentator Cho Ramaswamy told TOI in November 2010 that he was convinced that Karunanidhi was one of the most loving fathers he knew. “But his biggest mistake was introducing so many of his family members in politics,” he had said. “He became a puppet, and there were too many puppeteers.”Karunanidhi took criticisms of nepotism in his stride, but felt the pain when Kanimozhi went to jail and investigators wanted to question an ailing Dayalu Ammal.Around the same time, in November 2010, DMK ideologue the late Chinna Kuthoosi told TOI that Karunanidhi knew that promoting too many family members would be bad for the party, but he probably had his compulsions. “As long as Karunanidhi is alive,” he had said, “there will be no problem.”<doc-sep>DMK chief and Tamil Nadu politics veteran M Karunanidhi who passed away on Tuesday in Chennai at the age of 94, is survived by two wives and six children. DMK chief and Tamil Nadu political veteran M Karunanidhi, who passed away in Chennai on Tuesday evening at the age of 94, is survived by two wives and six children. Karunanidhi who started his political career as a student wing leader at the age of 14, married thrice. His first wife Padmavathi, died at an early age and left behind a son Muthu, who would later go on to dabble in films and politics but succeed in neither. Muthu has a son Aruvinidhi who also nurtures political ambitions but hasn't forayed into active politics yet. Karunanidhi married again in 1948 with Dayalu Ammal, from whom he has four children. His eldest son, MK Alagiri, has been active in politics, while second son MK Stalin is touted to be the apparent heir to Karunanidhi's legacy in Tamil politics as he is a prominent DMK leader who is expected to become the next party chief. He has another son Tamizharasu and a daughter Selvi from his second marriage. Only Alagiri and Stalin have been active politicians and they have been at loggerheads with Alagiri openly criticising Stalin for being a 'non-working' president after he was made the working president of DMK since Karunanidhi's retirement. Alagiri, a former Union minister, was in fact expelled from the party in 2014 before the Lok Sabha elections due to alleged 'indiscipline' and 'anti-party activities'. Kalaignar, as Karunanidhi is fondly called, married the third time in 1960 with Rajathi Ammal, from whom he has daughter Kanimozhi. Rajathi's name had cropped up in the Nira Radia tapes case for alleged corruption but the CBI did not find any evidence to implicate her in the same and she was thus acquitted by the courts. However, her daughter, Kanimozhi who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu, was chargesheeted by the CBI in the 2G spectrum case for the alleged scam in the dealings of Kalaignar TV, a television channel owned by the family. But she was later acquitted in 2017 by a special CBI court along with former MP A Raja. The political ambitions, however, have trickled down to the third generation of Karunanidhi's family as well. His grandson Arivunidhi (Muthu's son), Durai Dayanidhi (Alagiri' son) and Udayanidhi (Stalin's son) all harbour the dream of entering politics soon. It is his granddaughter Kayalvizhi (Alagiri's daughter) who is reportedly all set to make her political debut. Karunanidhi has another granddaughter in Senthamarai (Stalin's daughter) but it is unclear as of now if she will enter politics. Karunanidhi also had a sister Shanmugasundari, who has two sons Murasoli Selvam and Murasoli Maran. While Selvam is the DMK mouthpiece's editor, Maran is a former Union minister. It is Maran's son Kalanidhi who owns the famous Sun TV network, whereas his other son Dayanidhi Maran was also a Union minister in the UPA government in 2004. It is interesting to note, that Dayanidhi Maran who is a former telecom minister was also accused of scam in a telephone exchange case during his tenure. However, it is Karunanidhi's son Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi who continue to remain prominent party faces and leaders of his Dravidian legacy after his death due to prolonged illness.<doc-sep>DMK patriarch Karunanidhi was laid to rest at Marina Beach with full State honours on Wednesday as his family members and follower bid farewell. Auto refresh feeds As thousands await Karunanidhi's mortal remains at Rajaji Hall in Chennai, reports said that DMK chief's son Alagiri and DMK leader A Raja, accused in the 2G scam who recently got acquitted, have reached Rajaji Hall. Defending DMK's claim, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan tweeted and said, "When Anna was alive, it was Kalaignar and MGR as two brothers who worked hard to strengthen the party. It is only just that all three are allowed to rest nearby. It is sad, that people who came into the party after MGR do not possess that noble quality. Had MGR been alive and Kalaignar had passed away, MGR would have made Kalaignar to rest next to Anna." Politicians and actors came out in support of DMK's demand that Karunanidhi be buried at the Marina beach where political stalwarts like Annadurai and MGR were laid to rest. Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa was buried at the Marina Beach too. Only just if Anna, MGR and Kalaignar are allowed to rest nearby: Kamal Haasan Both Modi and Rahul, besides a host of other leaders are expected to arrive in Chennai today to pay their last respects to the departed doyen of Tamil Nadu politics. "Loved by the Tamilian people, Kalaignar strode the stage of Tamil politics, like a colossus, for over 6 decades. In his passing, India has lost a great son. My condolences to his family as also to the millions of Indians who grieve for their beloved leader tonight," he said on Twitter. "Deeply saddened by the passing away of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He was one of the senior most leaders of India. We have lost a deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised," Modi said in a series of tweets. According to The Hindu, AIADMK's rebel leader TTV Dhinakaran was the first to pay homage to Karunanidhi. "I don’t want to comment on giving space to Kalaignar at Marina. This is not the time for politics. Karunanidhi is a tall leader. It would not be appropriate to comment on it, since, the Madras High Court has seized of the matter at 8 am. I hope things will be fine," Dhinakaran was quoted as saying by The Hindu. As leaders of Tamil Nadu make beeline to pay homage to DMK chief M Karunanidhi, thousand of Kalaignar supporters have been raising slogans, "Marina venu (We want Marina)", demanding that the DMK chief be laid to rest just like other political stalwarts of the state. Chief Minister E Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Pannerselvam paid their last respect to Karunanidhi. Palaniswami was accompanied by Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambi Durai, Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan, AIADMK MLA D Jayakumar and other AIADMK members. Hearing the plea late Tuesday night , the court directed the state government and the Chennai Corporation to file their replies and adjourned the case to Wednesday morning 8 am. The Madras High Court on Wednesday morning at 8 am would decide on the DMK's plea against Tamil Nadu's government's decision to deny burial of the party president M Karunanidhi's body at Marina Beach. The Madras High Court hearing will begin at 8 am sharp. The judges are on their way their way to the high court premises Additional Advocate General Arvindh Pandian and senior lawyer C S Vaidyanathan have arrived at the Madras High Court. Hearing set to begin soon. As the Madras High Court verdict will decide whether Karunanidhi will be buried at the Marina Beach, the Tamil Nadu government has intensified security around the area. The hearing in Madras High Court has begun. Government lawyers are arguing that two acres of land for a memorial has been allocated in Guindy's Gandhi Mandapam in accordance with union government laws. Karunanidhi will be buried with full state honours. Hearing in the case against denial of burial land by Tamil Nadu government at Marina beach for M Karunanidhi begins Tamil Nadu government counsel CS Vaidyanathan, AAGs PH Arvindh Pandian and SR Rajagopal are at Court 1 of the Madras High Court, along with NR Elango and a battery of DMK lawyers. Lawyer of petitioner Traffic Ramaswamy says, "We have no objection to the burial land for Karunanidhi". Acting Chief Justice tells the lawyer to withdraw the case. All five petitions filed against the allocation of burial space at Marina have been withdrawn by the litigants Government lawyers argue that the courts cannot interfere in the state's decision in this regard. They cite the case of former chief minister K Kamaraj who isn't buried at Marina. Madras High Court directs Traffic Ramaswamy’s lawyer to file memorandum that he has no objection to bury Karunanidhi’s body at Marina beach. Lawyer submits the memorandum to the Acting Chief Justice. Traffic Ramaswamy files memorandum that he has no objection to Karunanidhi's burial in Marina Right now, the judges are studying if the responses filed by the government meet demands of the petition filed by the DMK lawyers last night. Based on the response filed by the lawyers representing Tamil Nadu government and taking in consideration "the truth of the situation", the court will deliver a speedy decision, the Madras High Court has said. Madras High Court Acting Chief Justice records in his order, submissions made by DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi in his affidavit seeking burial land at Marina beach for Karunanidhi. The government lawyers argued that the decision about the burial need not be delivered today on an emergency basis. However, the court can decide to deliver the judgment whenever it pleases, they said. The judges intervened to say under the circumstances it is not possible to delay the judgement any longer and it will have to be arrived at soon. Decision on burial need not be delivered on emergency basis, say govt lawyers<doc-sep>M Karunanidhi | Photo Credit: BCCL New Delhi: M Karunanidhi's family has been the mainstay of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for over five decades now. The five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu has been the leader of his party since 1968. MK Muthu is the eldest son of Karunanidhi. MK Muthu He was born to Karunanidhi’s first wife Padmavathi. He did not follow his father's footsteps into politics but instead made a foray into his father's other love - films and acting. Karunanidhi's second son MK Alagiri (born to his second wife, Dayalu Ammal) was the Minister of Chemicals in the central cabinet and also the coordinator for South Tamil Nadu for DMK. MK Stalin is M Karunanidhi's third son and was also born to his second wife, Dayalu Ammal. Stalin has been a four-time MLA in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and was also the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 2009 to 2011. Stalin is considered Karunanidhi's political heir. Karunanidhi's daughter Selvi was also born to the second wife. She is married, lives in Bengaluru and reportedly runs several businesses. She prefers to stay away from politics. The fourth child of Dayalu Ammal and Karunanidhi -- MK Thamizharasu or Tamilarasu -- is also not interested in politics and deals in film distribution and real estate. Karunanidhi's sixth child is (his daughter) Kanimozhi, born to the third wife Rajathiammal. Kanimozhi is an active member of the DMK and has been Rajya Sabha MP too. Karunanidhi's family tree stands impressively in its fourth generation now. Family members like Arivunithi, Dayanidhi Azhagiri, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Arulnithi are all part of the Tamil Film Industry. Apart from his own children, the former Tamil Nadu CM's grand nephew Kalanithi Maran is also a man with clout. Kalanithi Maran owns the Sun Network, the second largest TV network in India. As the news of M.Karunanidhi's demise arrived, DMK acting president M K Stalin asked the party cadres to behave in a regulated manner and not resort to violence to vent out grief. A seven-day state mourning has been announced in Tamil Nadu.<doc-sep>
By Online Desk Muthuvel Karunanidhi, born in 1924, was the supremo of one of Tamil Nadu's major political party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Fondly called as Kalaignar for his interest in arts and literature, he has been the chief minister of Tamil Nadu five times. He married three times to late Padmavathy, Dayalu Ammal, and Rajathiammal. He has four sons— M K Muthu, M K Alagiri, M K Stalin, and M K Tamilarasu and two daughters— Selvi and Kanimozhi. His oldest son Muthu, born to his late wife Padmavathy, died early; Azhagiri, Stalin, Tamilarasu, and Selvi were born to Dayaluammal, while Kanimozhi is the only daughter from his third wife, Rajathiammal. First son M K Muthu born to late Padmavathy, had a brief stint in film and politics; he acted in a couple of Tamil films and also sang a few numbers in some of his films. Second son M K Alagiri born to Dayalu Ammal, is active in politics and was a Cabinet Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers from 13 June 2009 – 20 March 2013. Settled in Madurai after marriage, he has been a party strongman in southern districts of the city. There have been various clashes in the state between his supporters and his younger brother M K Stalin’s supporters over succession and leadership of the party. Third son M K Stalin also born to Kalaignar’s second wife, is a keen member of the party and was the coveted Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu from 2009 to 2011. Previously, he was the Mayor of Chennai from 1996 to 2002. Treasurer and the Youth Wing President of the DMK, Stalin was named the party supremo’s heir, thus ending confusion around the successor of party in case of Karunanidhi’s death. Fourth son M K Tamilarasu also born to Dayalu Ammal, is a businessman and a film producer. He is a well-known campaigner for his father’s party. His son Arulnithi is an actor in the Tamil film industry like his cousin Udayanidhi (son of Stalin), and is best known for playing the lead role in ‘Vamsam’, directed by Pandiraj. Fifth in the lineage is his first daughter, M K Selvi. Born to Dayalu Ammal, she is inert in the political scenario except for campaigning for her father in elections. The sixth and last of Karunanidhi’s children is Kanimozhi. Born to his third wife Rajathiammal, Kanimozhi is also enthusiastic in the party and is engaging in social and political issues. Being a poet and journalist, she functions as the chief of the party’s wing for Art, Literature and Rationalism, and is seen as her father's "literary heir".