A long innings on the political pitch

Chennai

Chennai: The sovereign coin of Tamil Nadu politics features two heads, one on either side. Kalaignar Karunanidhi (90) is one of them. He wrote scripts for Tamil movies before entering politics. Kalaignar’s contribution to Tamil literature and cinema is phenomenal. Since 1942, his publication, Murasoli, has been the platform for his political viewpoint. His political career began with his participation in the Kallakudi anti-Hindi agitation (1953) that made him a prominent youth leader. First elected to the State assembly (1957) from Tiruchirappalli district and then became Treasurer of DMK (1961) and Leader of the Opposition (1962).  He served as minister under CN Annadurai when the DMK came to power in 1967 and then became Chief Minister in 1969. Since then he has been elected in 1971, 1989, 1996 and in 2006. He hasn’t lost a single election he has contested so far. Passing on the baton to his son MK Stalin, who has been named his heir apparent, 90-year-old Karunanidhi recently acknowledged the impact of Stalin’s ‘namakku naamey’ campaign across the state as a run up to the 2016 elections.
FACT FILE
•    Karunanidhi launched his own publication Murasoli in 1942 and it has been his medium for voicing his political viewpoint
•    His participation in Kallakudi anti-Hindi agitation in 1953 made him a prominent youth leader
•    He was first elected to the state assembly in 1957 from Tiruchirappalli
•    After serving as minister under Annadurai, he was first elected as Chief Minister in 1969. Since then he has been elected in 1971, 1989, 1996 and in 2006