Singer who hit high pitch with hate speech

CHENNAI: A singer, who aspired to be a musician,

Karunaas

ended up becoming a comedian in Tamil films and later a film producer. He launched his own outfit Mukkulathor Puli Padai that eventually made him a member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2016.

Defaults have steered Karunaas life. Less than three weeks ago, he was in political hibernation, seen as just one among the three independent MLAs who won on AIADMK’s ‘two leaves’ symbol. That seems ages ago, as his decision to send notice seeking removal of Tamil Nadu assembly speaker P Dhanapal on Wednesday has pitchforked him into political limelight.

A hate speech against chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam and the state police on September 16 sent him to prison a week later. Out on bail after another week, he was admitted in a city hospital early on Wednesday. Hours later, a DMK legislator and party strongman came visiting him in hospital. Soon after, he sent the notice to the speaker, which is virtually a notice to the AIADMK government.

It will give EPS a headache if the DMK decides to back Karunaas. That could be payback time with benefits for the DMK, to Karunaas, whose father spent his life for the DMK, with little gain.

More than the hate speech, it was Karunaas repeated statements on the ‘Koovathur drama’ that irritated the chief minister the most.

For, it was Karunaas who suggested to V K Sasikala the Golden Bay resort in Koovathur as a safe shelter for AIADMK legislators loyal to her during the OPS revolt. The resort’s owner was a friend of Karunaas.

“In return, Karunaas extracted a big promise from EPS,” says a person who knew Karunaas since his singing days. “That promise was never met.”