CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK leader MK Stalin on Sunday said the party would dedicate its victory in the Indian Lok Sabha elections to late leader M Karunanidhi and celebrate his birth centenary across the country.
The birth anniversary of Karunanidhi (1924-2018) on June 3 will also mark the climax of the DMK icon’s year-long (2023-24) birth centenary celebrations, with Stalin praising the leader’s contribution to democracy and the nation.
Stalin said that whenever democracy faced a crisis, “leaders of North India looked up to Karunanidhi” and that his “glorious contribution” ensured restoration of democracy and brought stability to the government, and “no one can dispute this.” “It was Karunanidhi who supported federalism and championed state autonomy at the national level.” He further said, “The results of the Lok Sabha elections will be announced on June 4. On that day, we will hoist the flag of victory and dedicate the victory of the Indian bloc to Karunanidhi,” adding that the centenary celebrations will be held at the national level.
The DMK has invited leaders from across the All India camp to its centenary celebrations to be held on June 3 at the party office in Delhi.
The Dravidian nationalist party leader said Karunanidhi’s action had strongly strengthened the DMK’s commitment to the ideals of social justice, harmony, state self-governance and protection of mother tongues.
That is why “communal players” are “viciously” attacking the DMK by “spreading rumours” in election-bound parts of the country, Stalin said. “Their voices show that they are trembling with fear of defeat.” Without naming the BJP, Stalin said he could understand the lamentations of such forces as they realised that a DMK-backed “New India” – a new Indian Union government at the Centre – would soon be formed.
In his letter to party workers, Stalin encouraged them to celebrate the birth centenary of late party patriarch Karunanidhi on June 3 by organising events relating to the welfare of the people and said such events should follow the existing Model Code of Conduct.
Stalin said the year-long centenary celebrations, scheduled to begin on June 3, 2023 and end on June 3 this year, will be marked by great planning and initiatives of the DMK government for the benefit of the people.
The Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Guindy, Chennai, the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai and the Kalaignar Memorial on the Marina Seafront were inaugurated in 2023-24 to mark the centenary celebrations.
Referring to a series of party events to mark the party’s 100th anniversary, the DMK leader said that thanks to the efforts of all party cadres, around 10 million new members have been registered, taking the party membership to over 20 million, and praised them for the “great job”.
Published May 26, 2024 13:46 IST
