Politician's arrest shakes Tamil Nadu

Mr Karunanidhi is dragged away by police

By Delhi correspondent Jill McGivering

India's Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has expressed concern about the arrest of Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the former chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

He was arrested in the early hours of Saturday on charges of corruption when he was in office.

However some analysts are linking his arrest to the long-running and bitter political feud between him and his main political rival, the newly-elected chief minister, Jayaram Jayalalitha.

Indian television reports showed dramatic pictures of the 78-year-old politician being pulled roughly down the stairs of his home by police officers and taken away in a police van.

Provoked demonstrations

The indignity of his arrest and the charges have raised a storm of protests from his supporters and sparked minor demonstrations within the state.

Mr Karunanidhi faces charges of corruption relating to roads built while he was chief minister.

He was voted out of office in May in state elections as a result of which Ms Jayalalitha replaced him as chief minister.

Tit-for-tat charges?

When Ms Jayalalitha was in opposition, she too faced corruption charges relating to her previous period as chief minister and was convicted on two counts.

Chief minister Jayalalitha has herself been convicted of corruption

Now supporters of Mr Karunanidhi accuse her of involvement in these latest arrests, saying that this attack on her main rival is politically motivated.

Concerns about his treatment have already been expressed in Delhi where his party, the DMK, is a key member of the central coalition government.

Mr Karunanidhi's son, who is the mayor of the city of Madras, and two other former ministers have also been arrested.