CHENNAI: DMK treasurer MK Stalin celebrated his 60th birthday with his party functionaries and cadre disbursing scores of welfare measures across the city, here on Thursday. Stalin met his father and DMK chief M Karunanidhi at Gopalapuram residence at 7 am along with his mother Dhayalu Ammal to receive the parental blessings. Returning to his residence, Stalin cut a cake specially ordered by the family for the occasion in the presence of his wards, Udhayanidhi and Senthamarai, his spouse Durga and others around 7.15 am.
Later, Stalin arrived at YMCA grounds in Royapettah, where the party cadre had organised a grand birthday bash for their party leader who was also the former Deputy Chief Minister.
His half-sister and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi greeted him at YMCA grounds. Union Ministers SS Palanimanickam, S Gandhiselvin and Napolean, MPs TKS Elangovan, Jeyadurai, E Sugavanam and AKS Vijayan, party MLAs and party functionaries were among those who greeted the leader.
A 60-kg cake coinciding with the age of Stalin was cut besides offering a life-size rose garland.
Stalin who reached the grounds at 8.10 am continued to receive greetings from the cadre for almost five hours continuously.
Several unique presents including sceptres, cash stuffed in shawls were also presented to him.
Shawls kept pouring in as part of the greeting rituals and at least seven cargo vehicles were used to take away the shawls alone.
Party youth wing units had organised for Youth Rise Day observations wherein several welfare measures in kind and cash were disbursed.
This was done in view of Stalin’s request not to celebrate his birthday in pomp as it was not the time for celebration.