| Telecom minister A Raja spoke to Information Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi this morning assuring him that the file seeking the requisite permissions will reach him from Chennai "� as it is required to be moved by the state government, which also happens to be the promoter of the channel "� by late evening today. Government sources said Kalaignar Television should start functioning before the month is out. |
| This has dashed the hopes of Raj Television which was hoping that DMK's publicity work would come to it "� the Raj TV stock was 9.99 per cent up to close at Rs 317.10 on the Bombay Stock Exchange today. |
| Sun TV, which was earlier the chosen channel, has also fallen out of favour after its owner, the Maran family, got into a spat with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and his family. |
| The burning down of the Dinakaran office was just the provocation for a long list of grievances that originate from the complex business arrangements that the DMK as a party is involved in. Running Sun TV as a publicity channel for the DMK was good politics for the Maran family"�it was also good business. |
| Therefore, when the contract for televising M Karunanidhi's 50 years in politics was not given to Sun TV and was instead given to Raj TV, there was considerable disquiet in the DMK. The Sun TV OB van reportedly went to the assembly to cover the proceedings but was humiliated by DMK full timers and turned away. |
| But Karunanidhi has clearly realised that depending on persons outside the immediate family for pedagogical support is a risky business and could jeopardize his son's future in politics. |
| How the DMK's cable business, called Sumangali will be shared between the Maran and Karunanidhi families remains to be seen. |
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