CHENNAI: DMK deputy general secretary and Tuticorin MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has officially added her mother’s name as her middle name. She will now be known as Kanimozhi Rajathi Karunanidhi.The name change was published in the Tamil Nadu govt gazette in June and came to light recently after the Lok Sabha portal updated the name of the DMK parliamentary party leader.“It was her long-pending plan to have her mother’s name included in her own name. She wanted to do it while her mother is hale and healthy. Her mother was very happy when she was informed about the change,” a close associate of Kanimozhi told TOI.Kanimozhi is the only daughter of Rajathi and late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. The inclusion of her mother’s name is being seen as a personal tribute to Rajathi, who has largely stayed away from active politics and public life.Kanimozhi was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tuticorin in 2019 and retained the seat in the 2024 general election, becoming the first woman to represent the constituency twice in succession. She was subsequently appointed the DMK’s parliamentary party leader, succeeding veteran party leader T R Baalu. Before entering the Lok Sabha, Kanimozhi served two terms in the Rajya Sabha – from 2007 to 2019.
