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Karunaas said he had called on Stalin, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, since the DMK chief had spoken in his support during the MLA’s arrest last month, while questioning why BJP leaders H Raja and S Ve Shekher, both facing cases, had been spared. Karunaas indicated a section of media and people were of the belief that he was being “directed” by Stalin or or Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) founder T T V Dhinakaran.
“Media and people say I am being directed by Stalin and T T V Dhinakaran. According to me only Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar can direct me and my community members,” he told reporters after meeting Stalin. Thevar, a freedom fighter, is a highly respected figure in parts of south Tamil Nadu.
A film comedian, Karunaas heads a caste-based outfit, ‘Mukkulathor Puli Padai,’ and was elected from Thiruvadaanai in Ramanathauram district in the 2016 Assembly polls on the AIADMK’s Two Leaves symbol. Repeating his criticism against Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal, he said the former was acting in a “partisan” manner. Karunaas, also an actor, recalled he had therefore served a notice seeking Dhanapal’s removal.
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Last year, on a plea by AIADMK, the speaker had disqualified 18 MLAs loyal to Dhinakaran, after they had petitioned the then governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao saying they had lost confidence in the chief minister and wanted him to be replaced. The Madras High Court has recently reserved orders on petitions challenging the disqualifications.