The party meet, however, ended without announcing the date for the general council meeting where the party president would be elected
DMK's executive committee's meeting in Chennai on Tuesday to condole the demise of the party's president M Karunanidhi turned into a 'coronation' ceremony with speaker after speaker expressing their support for his son and party working president MK Stalin to take up his father's place.
After the passage of the condolence resolution heaping praise on Karunanidhi, who died on August 7, and his achievements, speakers, including senior leaders such as Duraimurugan, TR Baalu, Subbulakshmi Jagadesan and others, expressed their support to Stalin and urged him to take over the party's mantle. The party meet, however, ended without announcing the date for the general council meeting where the party president would be elected.
"Working President, who is soon going to be our president… we will abide by your order. You lead us as the party President," DMK principal secretary Duraimurugan said to cheers. Former Union Minister Baalu said Stalin proved his leadership qualities on the night of Karunanidhi's death when he took the bold decision to approach the court to get the rightful place for the leader's burial at Marina.
The chorus in favour of Stalin taking over the party's mantle in the DMK's executive committee meeting assumes significance as it comes a day after his elder brother MK Alagiri, who was expelled from the party in 2014, made a dramatic appearance at his father's grave at Marina and claimed that Karunanidhi's loyal supporters were with him. With the party leaders firmly rallying behind Stalin, Alagiri's posturing did not seem to have had any impact on the party.
In an apparent message to his brother Alagiri, Stalin, speaking in a choked voice, said all the people gathered know that he took over the responsibility to run the party as the working president with the love and support of Karunanidhi after he fell ill one-and-a-half years ago. He called upon the DMK members to vow to protect the party by following in Kalaignar's footsteps.
MESSAGE TO ALAGIRI
- In an apparent message to his brother Alagiri, Stalin, speaking in a choked voice, said all the people gathered know that he took over the responsibility to run the party as the working president with the love and support of Karunanidhi after he fell ill one-and-a-half years ago
- He called upon the DMK members to vow to protect the party by following in Kalaignar’s footsteps.
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