Maran's Resignation

Dayanidhi Maran's resignation as Communications and IT minister under tremendous pressure from the DMK,riddled with family feud, is indeed a very negative development.It speaks volumes about the 'supreme' power these regional leaders have in a coalition government, where they literally 'call the shots'.Maran's resignation just because an opinion poll conducted in a newspaper was found to be unfavourable to Karunanidhi's son's liking indicates that mobocracy and violence is rewarded in Indian politics( Tamil Nadu politics) and not merit. Maran was doing his job reasonably well.It is the prerogative of the PM to dismiss ministers and not of regional parties to call for their removal.Also, the pressure tactics being employed by the DMK to ensure that Maran's successor in the ministry is someone from the DMK itself is a real threat to the right of a PM, as enshrined in the constitution, to appoint 'suitable and deserving' ministers as per his wish. It also is a reminder of the fact that violence and Tamil Nadu politics are deeply enmeshed.