As opposition leader and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa attacked the DMK regime on many fronts and accused chief minister M Karunanidhi of working for the welfare of his own family rather than the people, a television channel run by Karunanidhi's estranged grand-nephews gleefully telecast her diatribe live.
'Sun News', a 24-hour news channel from the Sun group owned by Kalanidhi Maran and his brother Dayanidhi Maran, had live footage of most of her strident speech – something unthinkable when they were in the good books of the DMK leadership. Sun TV, which commands the highest popularity rating in the Tamil speaking world, had played a significant role in anti-Jayalalithaa propaganda over a decade.
However, after the Marans fell foul of Karunanidhi in an intra-family squabble, mainly between Karunanidhi's Madurai-based son M K Azhagiri and the brothers, there has been a marked change in the attitude of the media organisations run by them towards coverage of the AIADMK.
Dayanidhi had explained it as a mere newsroom decision on merits, but the prominence given to the AIADMK in Dinakaran, a daily run by the Marans, has not been lost on the DMK leadership.
Addressing a public meeting near the Theni district collectorate, Jayalalithaa said, "My rule was selfless and I worked for the people's welfare, whereas Karunanidhi's concern is only that of his family."
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