Marking the seventh death anniversary of M Karunanidhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday led party leaders in paying floral tributes to the late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Senior DMK leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, MP Kanimozhi, and other party functionaries, joined Stalin in honouring the memory of the iconic leader at his memorial on Marina Beach.
Remembering him, Stalin described Karunanidhi as a “guiding light for Tamil Nadu” and called upon people to continue on his path of progress and equality.
In a post on X, he wrote: “Leader Kalaignar – the gift to the world by Muthuvelar and Anjugam Ammaiyar! The fire ignited in the Tamil race by Father Periyar and the great scholar Anna!”
Stalin reiterated Karunanidhi’s vision of “Everything for Everyone” and “Tamil Nadu First in Everything,” urging followers to take a pledge in his memory to uphold these ideals.
The Chief Minister also led a silent march from Mount Road to the Muthamizharignar Dr. Kalaignar M Karunanidhi Memorial, accompanied by numerous DMK cadres and supporters.
Muthuvel Karunanidhi, affectionately known as Kalaignar, was a towering figure in Tamil Nadu politics and a central force in the Dravidian movement. He made his debut in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1957, winning from the Kulithalai constituency. He later rose to become the DMK treasurer in 1960.
Karunanidhi served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times, with tenures spanning 1969–1971, 1971–1976, 1989–1991, 1996–2001, and 2006–2011. Known for his exceptional oratory and writing skills, he championed the cause of Tamil identity, social justice, and the upliftment of marginalised communities.
He passed away on August 7, 2018, at the age of 94 after a prolonged illness, leaving behind a lasting legacy that continues to shape Tamil Nadu’s political and cultural landscape.