MK Stalin urges cadre to make June 3 a ‘turning point’ in politics

DMK working president MK Stalin made the appeal as the party gears up for the celebrations for which it has invited several political leaders, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Karunanidhi, who has avoided public events for the past few months due to health issues, is continuing with his medical treatment and if permitted by doctors, he might take part in the celebrations, Stalin said. 

Asking party workers to slog for enhancing the honour and esteem of the party chief and his father, Stalin said, “At a time when he is taking some rest due to medical reasons, working to fulfil his ideals will be the best birthday gift to him.” 

Stalin, the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, hailed Karunanidhi as “a leader who has worked for the development of the Tamil society for 80 long years without any respite.” 

Listing several developmental initiatives and welfare measures launched during the previous DMK regimes, he said Karunanidhi had taken the place of an “illustrious leader of big achievements” not only in the state’s history but also in the Indian democratic polity. 

“Let us make the celebrations a turning point in Indian politics. Let Tamil Nadu’s capital city turn a sea of black and red (the colours of DMK’s flag) and its reverberations reach New Delhi,” he said, asking party workers to gather in large numbers here on June 3. DMK Rajya Sabha MP and Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi had recently invited Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad for the event. 

The main opposition party in the state, the DMK is seeking to regain its hold after back-toback electoral set backs in the last two assembly elections and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. 

The party has been working towards becoming a key player in national politics as well, like it was during the erstwhile UPA regime. As part of such efforts, the DMK is projecting itself to be a rallying point for anti-BJP forces in the state especially when both the factions of the ruling AIADMK appear favourably disposed towards the saffron party at the Centre.

Actor Kamal Haasan on Sunday heaped praise on DMK leader M Karunanidhi, in a video message ahead of the latter’s 94th birthday. “He’s not only a senior political leader, he’s not only a Tamil scholar, he’s an amazing screenplay writer. An amazing dialogue writer,” Kamal said. 

“My relationship with Karunanidhi has always been beyond politics, and it is that way today as well. While his record (60 years as a legislator) may not be related to my art world, it is definitely related to my world. To celebrate a diamond jubilee in politics, imagine how young he must have been when he entered politics, and how he has held onto it even in his old age,” the actor said. DMK president Karunanidhi is celebrating his 94th birthday on June 3, and the party is also celebrating his diamond jubilee as a legislator on the occasion.