The kingmaker with a capital K: Remembering Kamaraj on his birth anniversary

K Kamaraj seen along with the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the late Finance minister C Subramaniam (2nd left) at Chennai airport. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj is seen with the late President S Radhakrishnan (left) and the late Chief Minister M Bhaktavatsalam (2nd from right). (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with the late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri. (File Photo | PTI)

K Kamaraj with the last Governor-General of India, C Rajagopalachari. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with the late politician Jayaprakash Narayan. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with 'Periyar' E. V. Ramasamy. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with DMK leader M Karunanidhi (extreme L), the late E V K Sampath and the late M G Ramachandran (extreme R). (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with the late DMK leader C N Annadurai. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with the late Tamil poet Kannadasan. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj with the late actor Sivaji Ganesan. (File Photo | EPS)

K Kamaraj signing an autograph for a child during an election campaign. (File Photo | EPS)

Kamaraj, after an illustrious political career, and living true to his principle to never 'accept any post to which one could not do full justice”, passed away on 2 October 1975. His body kept for the public to pay last respects at Rajaji Hall. (File Photo | EPS)

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is seen paying tributes to K Kamaraj. Former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and former Minister P U Shanmugam (left) are also seen. (File Photo | EPS)