CHENNAI: In a bid to put at rest speculation about his desperation to wrest control of the party, DMK treasurer M K Stalin on Monday said nonagenarian M Karunanidhi would be the Chief Ministerial candidate for 2016 Assembly elections.
The heir apparent also reiterated that he never had any rift with the patriarch.
Speaking at the Mupperum Vizha of the party here, Stalin said even after the exit of senior leaders like V R Nedunchezhiyan, M G Ramachandran and Vaiko, the DMK had stood steadfast and moved ahead. According to him, it was a section of the media, which for the past three-and-a-half years, had been attempting to malign the DMK by spreading canards.
Karunanidhi, revealing his opinion about him (Stalin), had maintained that Stalin was “personification of hard work”, the heir apparent said quoting an interview. “Will I ever have a desire to achieve anything more or an office than this acknowledgement? Never,” Stalin said and asked the media to ponder over this while spreading rumours. He also appealed to cadre not to believe the media reports about him.
“Kalaignar will be our leader forever... Durai Murugan who spoke a little early said Karunanidhi will form the next government in Tamil Nadu after the 2016 Assembly elections... I second his words,” Stalin said.
General secretary K Anbazhagan said there was no other party which gives importance to intra-party democracy as the DMK. He said the Assembly elections could happen even next year. Karunanidhi underscored the need for the cadre to rededicate themselves to achieve the goals of the Dravidian movement.