Chennai: A large number of DMK leaders and cadres led by party chief M. K. Stalin took out a peace march in Chennai on Wednesday to mark the first death anniversary of patriarch M. Karunanidhi. Stalin planted a tree sapling adjacent to the memorial.
The rally, in which senior leaders and thousands of cadres took part began from Anna Salai and wound its way till the memorial of Karunanidhi on the Marina beachfront on Kamarajar Salai, a distance of about a kilometre.
Stalin paid floral tributes and planted a sapling in the memorial premises.
Former Union minister, and expelled leader M. K. Alagiri visited the memorial along with his family members and paid tributes. Stalin’s elder brother Alagiri was expelled from the party five years ago had last September held a rally here to pay homage to his father. He refused to speak to the media persons. MDMK leader and Raja Sabha member Vaiko also visited the memorial and paid floral tributes.
Senior leader Duraimurugan, former Union Ministers T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran, Lok Sabha MPs Kanimozhi, Tamizhachi Thangapandian were among the leaders who took part in the rally. Stalin also laid a wreath at the nearby ‘sammadhi’ of DMK founder CN Annadurai.
Several other prominent personalities including noted lyricist Vairamuthu paid tributes at Karunanidhi’s memorial. DMK party units across State held memorial events to commemorate Karunanidhi’s first death anniversary. His portrait was put up in public places where floral tributes were paid by party workers.
Later in the day, a statue of Karunanidhi was unveiled in the premises of DMK organ “Murasoli” here by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. After unveiling the statute she visited the memorial in Marina and paid floral tributes.
Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy also paid floral tribute at the memorial.
