Chennai:
The rousing reception for DMK Chief M Karunanidhi's daughter M Kanimozhi, following her victory in Rajya Sabha elections, resembled a party's victory bash after winning state elections. Hundreds of party cadre and senior leaders swarmed to her CIT colony residence in Chennai to greet Karunanidhi's literary heir.
Ms Kanizmohi is still fighting the 2G spectrum scam case for which she spent more than six months behind bars. Critics say she should have waited till her name was cleared in the case. But Ms Kanimozhi says she need not. "I have an example in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (J Jayalalithaa) and I didn't have to wait till charges against me are cleared," she told NDTV.
The DMK did not have enough numbers to ensure her victory and it was support of its former ally Congress' five MLAs that brought her a second term in Parliament.
"The whole credit goes to our party leader Kalaignar (Mr Karunanidhi), my brother MK Stalin. I thank the Congress, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and leaders of Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and Puthiya Tamizhagam," she said.
Just three months ago the DMK had snapped ties with the Congress and pulled out its members in the Union Cabinet alleging the centre did not do enough for tough UN action against Sri Lankan on allegations of human rights violations against Lankan Tamils. Is Congress' support an indication of revival of ties between both parties ahead of Lok Sabha polls? Ms Kanimozhi says "You are asking the wrong person".
Ms Kanimozhi explains issues concerning Tamil Nadu and the people of the state would continue to be her focus through her second innings in the upper house of Parliament.