CHENNAI: DMK’s treasurer M.K. Stalin on Wednesday, at the general council meeting, took over as the party’s working president who will also have all the powers of the president. Owing to the absence of the indisposed party chief, M. Karunanidhi, a copious flow of tears marked the major event.
Thunderous applause from those gathered led to a celebratory start at the party headquarters at Anna Salai, but soon the ambience turned sombre with Stalin moved to tears at the mention of his father’s inability to attend the DMK general council meeting for the first time in the party’s history.
The much-awaited moment of Stalin’s anointment came after the resolutions at the meeting were read out by party spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan.
The general council members broke into resounding cheers and slogans again when DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan, who presided over the meeting, proposed Stalin’s name for the post of working president. He said Stalin would also continue as the party treasurer.
The senior leader regretted that his long time friend Karunanidhi was unable to preside over the meeting and recalled Stalin’s ‘Namakku naamey’ campaign, which he said, fetched the party 89 members in the Assembly.
Stalin, in a pensive mood, was unable to control his tears when principal secretary K. Duraimurugan mentioned again about the absence of Karunanidhi in the meeting.
Imitating DMK founder C.N. Annadurai’s words asking his colleague V.R. Nedunchezhian to preside over a party conference, Duraimurugan told Stalin Thambi Vaa, thalaimai yaerga vaa (Come younger brother, Take over the leadership). We are ready to follow your command”.
