CHENNAI: Stalin, the eternal prince-in-waiting, may have edged his father out in a survey as the popular face of DMK, but the party’s nonagenarian president M Karunanidhi is not wary of continuing his electoral battles. Giving ample indication of this, Karunanidhi has announced a tour of his Tiruvarur Assembly constituency on September 20 and 21 when he would launch “welfare schemes”.
Political observers consider this as a signal that Karunanidhi could well make a bid to enter the Assembly for a record 13th time next year from his sitting constituency, which happens to be his native.
The DMK war horse is scheduled to address a public meeting in Tiruvarur town on September 20 and lay the foundation for construction of additional classrooms and auditorium at Kattur Higher Secondary School. Further, he would distribute prizes to students of the Koradacherry Higher Secondary School, besides inaugurating classrooms at the Tiruvarur Va So Boys Higher Secondary School and an anganwadi building at Vakkiranallur, all constructed from the MLA Local Area Development Scheme Funds.
Commenting on the programme, DMK organising secretary TKS Elangovan said “As MLA, Kalaignar is visiting Tiruvarur to inaugurate projects built from his constituency development fund.” Elangovan did not leave one in doubt about Karunanidhi’s continuing electoral aspirations when he said, “We have not decided candidates for constituencies yet. But Kalaignar can contest from anywhere and the chances of him seeking a second term from Tiruvarur are high.”
In the past, except for Kulithalai from where he first entered the Assembly in 1957 and Thanjavur (1962), Karunanidhi had contested from a constituency more than twice. He was elected from Saidapet in 1967 and 1971, before moving to Anna Nagar in 1977 and 1980. While he did not contest in 1984 as he was a member of the Legislative Council (since abolished), he won from Harbour in 1989 and 1991 and from Chepauk in 1996, 2001 and 2006. In 2011, he moved to Tiruvarur.
A district functionary from Tiruvarur said “We hope and want our leader to contest from here again. Last time, he won by over 50,000 votes.”
Stalin Launches Interactive APP
Chennai: DMK treasurer MK Stalin on Sunday launched a mobile app with a view to increasing interaction with people. Called ‘M.K.Stalin’, the app will be available on Android, Windows and iOS platforms and people could bring issues concerning the State to him, said a press statement. “I am looking forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions for the development of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said in the statement. The app has a feature dedicated for residents of his Kolathur constituency using which people can suggest ways for use of constituency development fund. Those who installed the app would be notified about the works undertaken in the constituency and the issues resolved.