The intention to skirt any controversy surrounding the perpetual infighting within the party was clear at the public meeting organised by the DMK on Monday to celebrate the 89th birthday of its patriarch M Karunanidhi.
The octogenarian leader addressed the gathering surrounded by political allies on stage, even as the entire DMK top brass watched from the front benches. The occasion notwithstanding, Karunanidhi steered clear of the coming Lok Sabha polls and, instead, announced that the DMK and its allies would “go to war” till the Sethusamudram Project is completed.
Karunanidhi’s son M K Alagiri was conspicuous by his absence at the public meeting, but he had greeted his father with a cake at his Gopalapuram residence early in the morning, before Karunanidhi set out to pay floral tributes at the memorials of Dravidian political ideologues E V R Periyar and C N Annadurai. Alagiri also did not go to Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, when Karunanidhi met party cadre from across the State who greeted him and gave presents. He was, however, present in Chennai during the public meet and is expected to depart for Madurai Tuesday.
Karunanidhi shared the stage with former minister Rm Veerapaan, Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani, VCK leaders Thol Thirumavalavan and Ravikumar, Indian Union Muslim League state president Khader Mohideen and Dravida Iyakka Tamilar Peravai leader Suba Veerapandian. The only other DMK leader on stage was South Chennai district secretary J Anbazhagan, who presided over the meeting in the absence of party general secretary K Anbazhagan.
The leaders greeted Karunanidhi and heaped praise on his long political innings. He commented neither on his party’s unity nor about the LS polls, but did announce that the DMK would campaign for the completion of Sethu Project.
“They are opposing it because they believe there is a bridge built by Lord Rama. Let them name the project Sri Rama Canal if they want to, but we want the project completed. We will go to war if they don’t. That is my birthday message to the both the Central and State governments,” declared Karunanidhi.