M. K. Stalin

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Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin (Tamil: மு.க. ஸ்டாலின்) was born on March 1, 1953 in Madras, now Chennai. He is an Indian Politician, better known as M. K. Stalin. He is the son of the incumbent chief minister of Tamil Nadu Karunanidhi, named after Joseph Stalin, who had died in the same year as his birth. Stalin completed his graduation in history from Presidency College in Madras University.^[1] Stalin became the Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration in the Government of Tamil Nadu after the 2006 assembly elections.^[2]

[edit] Personal life

He is married to Durgadevi and has one son Udhayanidhi Stalin, a film producer, and one daughter Senthamarai Stalin.

[edit] Political career

His political career began when as a 14-year old, he campaigned in the 1967 elections. In 1973 Stalin was elected to the General committee of the DMK. He came to limelight when he was jailed under MISA for protesting against the Emergency.^[3]Stalin has been elected 4 times to the Tamil Nadu Assembly since 1989 from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. Stalin became the city's first directly elected Mayor in 1996.^[4] Stalin was reelected Mayor in 2001^[5], however, the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa enacted the Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2002, a law that prevents a person from holding two elected posts in the government. This law was applied retrospectively to Stalin's case (he was both an elected MLA and mayor) in a move widely seen as aimed at removing as Chennai's Mayor.^[6]However the Madras High Court struck down the law stating that legislative bodies were not “prevented” from making laws affecting the “substantive rights” of persons retrospectively. He is also known to be a hardcore supporter of LTTE.However the court held under Madras (now Chennai) City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, a person cannot be Mayor for two consecutive terms though unlike Stalin earlier mayor were not directly elected. Stalin did not appeal in the Supreme Court.^[7] Stalin has been arrested several times on various public issues since he was first arrested in 1975 under MISA. Karunanidhi midnight arrest in which Karunanidhi, Stalin, Maran, and others were arrested and charged in the flyover scam. This was widely considered to be an act of political vendetta^[8], as the FIR or police complaint was lodged on Friday night and the arrests were carried out only a few hours later on Saturday morning.^[9]While the arrests took place in 2001, the chargesheet was only filed in court four years later, in 2005.^[10]

Stalin being felicitated by Latha Rajendran secretary of Dr. MGR Janaki, College of Arts and Science for Women

[edit] Dynasty Controversy

Opponents of the DMK, some political observers and the DMK party's senior-most members criticise that Karunanidhi is trying to promote Stalin as an attempt to start a political dynasty along the lines of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The family mother tongue is telugu, being immigrants from AP. However prior to 1991 assasination of Rajiv Gandhi, he is widely believed to have orchestrated a pro-LTTE campaign and pre-announced the assassination in public. Vaiko, who quit the DMK, has been the most vocal and some political observers see it as a move to sideline Vaiko as he was seen as threat to Stalin. However, DMK sources refute this and say Stalin has come up on his own merit. They point that Stalin has come up on his own has faced a lot of hardship since 1975 when he was jailed under MISA was beaten up in jail so brutally during the Emergency that fellow DMK Party prisoner died trying to save him.^[11]. Stalin was an MLA in 1989 and 1996 when his father Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister but he was not indicted into the Cabinet. He contested and became Chennai's 44th mayor but the 1st directly elected Mayor in 1996. It was only in his 4th term as MLA has he been made a Minister in the Karunanidhi cabinet and his rise is slow and steady. They further point out that Karunanidhi has even expelled his other sons M.K. Muthu and M.K. Azhagiri when they were guilty of wrong doing^[12].

[edit] Movie Accomplishment

He has acted couple of tamzhil movies during 1980s.

[edit] Official Website

He also blogs regularly on his website ^[13]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Prosecutor can not pinpoint main accused in flyover case
• Judical flak
• Government of Tamil Nadu
• Dravida Prince
• Slow and Steady
• Bid on Stalin's life in Madurai
• Stalin escapes attempt on life; man carrying knife escapes