Maran Family Feud Over Sun TV: Will It Impact DMK's Political Fortunes?

One of Tamil Nadu’s most influential political and business families — the Marans — is now embroiled in a rare public dispute that threatens not only the family’s legacy but also casts a shadow over the ruling DMK, to which they’ve long been closely tied.

According to senior DMK sources, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has tried to mediate between brothers Kalanithi and Dayanidhi Maran on at least two occasions in the past three months. While Kalanithi and their sister Anbukkarasi were reportedly open to reconciliation, Dayanidhi Maran, a DMK MP and former Union Minister, “refused to listen,” said a source.

The rift became public when Dayanidhi issued a legal notice to his elder brother, accusing him of fraudulent share allotments and corporate misgovernance in their media empire’s crown jewel, Sun TV Network Ltd.

In response to media reports triggered by the notice, Sun TV filed a statement with the stock exchanges under SEBI Regulation 30. The company clarified that the issue dates back over two decades, to a time when it was still a privately held firm. It termed the allegations “incorrect, misleading, defamatory,” and emphasized that all corporate actions had followed due legal process and were vetted by intermediaries before going public.

Sun TV also stated that the family feud “has no impact on the company’s business operations” and stressed that this was a personal matter within the promoter family.

Despite this, the public nature of the feud is already proving politically costly. A senior DMK functionary admitted that the episode was “deeply embarrassing” for both the family and the party.

As one of the most high-profile dynasties in Tamil Nadu, the Marans’ dispute comes at a sensitive time, placing pressure on both the DMK’s internal unity and its public image ahead of key political developments.