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NT Bureau
Chennai, May 23:

        Former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran left for New Delhi this morning for the first time since he resigned from the Union Cabinet, and adding a tinge of political spice, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is all set to fly the national capital in a few days time. Though the two events are apparently unrelated, the fact that they are happening back to back has brought extra focus on them.

        Karunanidhi is scheduled to leave for Delhi soon to discuss a host of issues with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in view of the exit of Dayanidhi Maran and the changed circumstances.

        The candidate for a vacant Union cabinet berth belonging to the DMK, the stand of the party vis-a-vis the election of the Vice President and President, issues like Cauvery and Palar would be taken up with the Prime Minister and Sonia.

        Besides this, the visit would also be utilised to speed up the application now with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, to start Kalaignar TV, a new Tamil satellite television channel, sources in the know said. 'The Chief Minister doesn't like to be in Chennai when a family function of Maran brothers is scheduled to take place,' sources further said, pointing to the bangle ceremony for Maran's sister scheduled for next week.

        The Chief Minister would also participate in the National Development Council meet during his stay in Delhi.

        Meanwhile, today Dayanidhi Maran came to the Chennai domestic terminal by 6 am. As it happened, when he went to the VIP lounge, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was also waiting there to take the same flight to Delhi. Both were seen talking for some time before leaving to board the plane by 6.35 am.

        While the plans of Karunanidhi is known, it is not clear as to why Maran chose to travel to Delhi at this point in time.