MK’s statue to be unveiled at Arivalayam on Dec 16

The announcement comes after the principal opposition party learnt that the ruling AIADMK was not favourably disposed in allowing them to erect the statue on the OSR land in Arivalayam. The DMK had originally planned to unveil the life-sized statue of Karunanidhi on the 100th day of the leader’s demise, which fell on Wednesday. 

An unhappy DMK president MK Stalin who could not erect the statue in Anna Arivalayam paid floral tributes at the memorial on Marina. As per Thursday’s announcement, Karunanidhi’s statue would be located alongside the statue of party founder Anna, which was being refurbished. 

When contacted, DMK organising secretary RS Bharati said, “The statue would be near the frontage. We do not require the government’s permission to erect the statue now as it is beyond the OSR land.” 

The DMK had hoped to unveil the statue on the OSR land where Anna statue stands on the party headquarters campus.  A resolution of the city corporation granting conditional approval to erect the statue on OSR land had even given the impression that the state government would not deter the statue project. 

However, DMK’s plan evapourated after the ruling AIADMK not only put the rival’s statue application on hold but also unveiled the renewed statue of its leader Jayalalithaa on the same day (100th day of Karunanidhi’s demise). 

However, Stalin wanted his father’s statue unveiled. DMK has already invited the important leaders of Indian politics, including Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for the statue unveiling ceremony.