CHENNAI: Tuesday is likely to become the DMK’s first public pick-me-up event since the party’s failed bid in the Lok Sabha election, in the form of the 91st birthday of party patriarch M Karunanidhi. The party machinery has been asked to turn out in full force, in a bid to use the leader’s birthday as a means to galvanise the mood of the party.
The celebrations would begin with a tree planting campaign at CIT Colony at 5:15 am. Karunanidhi is scheduled to make an appearance outside his residence at the posh Gopalapuram locality, before heading out for his customary obeisance at the tomb of DMK founder C N Annadurai.
He would then head to Periyar Thidal, the headquarters of the Dravidar Kazhagam at Vepery, to pay his respects at the tomb of Dravidan politics ideologue ‘Periyar’ E V Ramasamy Naicker.
He would then return to his residence, before heading for Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, where he would receive partymen till lunch time. A public meeting, organised at the YMCA Grounds at Royapettah, is slated to begin at 7 pm.
Top leaders of the party are likely to take part, with sources close to the nonagenarian leader saying he might outline his view of the election defeat and the road ahead.