Maran wanted roaming charges to go

Chennai: Millions of mobile phone users would have wished Dayanidhi Maran stayed as Telecom Minister for at least a few more days as he was planning to abolish roaming charges on cell phones from June 3, birthday of DMK supremo Karunanidhi.

"I was planning to do away with roaming charges on mobile phones on Karunanidhi's birthday," Maran, who resigned from the Cabinet after his party DMK's decision, said.

"...I hope my successor does it and I would rather plead that it is done on that day," he told reporters.

Asked about his probable successor, Maran said there were many candidates in the DMK.

The outgoing minister, who was instrumental in pursuing many multinationals including Nokia, Ericsson and others to set up manufacturing facilities in India, did not waste the opportunity to take credit for bringing in Rs 2.66 lakh crore of investment.