Stalin declared that he is accepting the post with a heavy heart as the party needs to give rest to its indisposed chief M. Karunanidhi.
CHENNAI: DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday declared that he is accepting the post with a heavy heart as the party needs to give rest to its indisposed chief M. Karunanidhi. The 63-year-old leader who continues to hold the posts of treasurer and youth wing leader said his job is only to support party leader Karunanidhi and he would discharge his work with the guidelines of senior leaders including general secretary K. Anbazhagan and principal secretary K. Duraimurugan.
Stalin’s post with powers equal to the president, is now the numero uno position in the party above the general secretary. He began his speech after seeking the blessings of Anbazhagan and recalled Duraimurugan’s speech mentioning the absence of Karunanidhi. He said “We used to proudly declare that our leader used to work without rest. Such a leader is unwell and needs rest now”. So, the party’s general secretary, principal secretary and senior leaders decided to create the working president post and entrusted the responsibility to him, Stalin said.
Stalin, first working president in the history of the six decades old party, said he used to observe the meetings of party leaders with Karunanidhi and the way his father used to go to public meetings. He was inspired by his father and sought votes for the party even when he was a school boy, Stalin recalled. He also cited his gradual growth in the party as a ward representative, district representative and general council member. Stalin said he started the youth wing in 1980 and became the youth wing convenor and later the wing’s secretary. Later, he became one of the deputy general secretaries and then the treasurer, Stalin added.
“When I took over those posts, I was very proud. But, today I accept the responsibility of working president with a heavy heart, despite your affection and support”, he said. Recalling Karunanidhi’s speech when Stalin assumed charge as Chennai mayor in 1996 that it is not a post by a responsibility, Stalin said in the same way this is not a post, but a responsibility and asserted that he would work in a responsible manner. Speaking to reporters at Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence later, Stalin said he got the blessings of Karunanidhi.
