As the clamour grew, Minister for Tamil Culture and Archaeology Mafoi Pandiarajan said Palaniswami would take a final call on the issue. (File)
A fresh sign of discord is showing among AIADMK ministers over the demand for a second capital for Tamil Nadu to ensure administrative efficiency. Political observers believe the state government has taken a leaf out of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, which has approved a three-capital plan.
On Wednesday, state Tourism Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan, who represents the Tiruchirappalli East constituency, said the city should be made the second capital as it was the dream of former Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran.
READ | AIADMK ministers seek second state capital in Tamil Nadu
Natarajans plea came a couple of days after Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar, who is in charge of Madurai West district for the AIADMK, urged Palaniswami to make Madurai, referred to as the temple city of Tamil Nadu, the second capital. His views were echoed by Minister for Co-operation Sellur Raju.
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Former Tamil Nadu cabinet minister and senior DMK leader A Rahman Khan passed away on Thursday. Rahman, 77, was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Chennai.
READ | Former Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader A Rahman Khan passes away
Rahman was a five-time MLA and secured a hattrick victory from the Chepauk constituency, in 1977, 1980, and 1984. He successfully contested from Poonga Nagar in 1989 and from Ramanathapuram in 1996. In a statement, DMK president MK Stalin condoled Rahmans death and called it a great personal loss.
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