What does DMK's MK Stalin want as a birthday gift?

While leaders in Tamil Nadu are known for their extravagant birthday celebrations, Dravida Munnetra Kazdhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin who celebrates his birthday today, doesn't want party cadres to have grand festivities for him.

Tamil Nadu has been facing a crisis on the political front ever since former CM J Jayalalithaa's passed away in September last year to the violence that erupted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly last month. In the wake of the recent incidents, Stalin has asked party members to refrain from gifting him shawls and rather indulge in welfare programmes and gift him books. 

A TOI report quoted Stalin saying, "Out of love, many party members gift me glittering shawls on my birthday. With changing time and sartorial preferences, shawls have become useless pieces of cloth and gifting them has become meaningless. Instead, revive the habit of gifting books that would help one lifelong."

He added that he doesn't want "disenchantment among public" and has thus been insisting on blood donation camps, welfare programmes and tree planting in the state to celebrate his birthday.

Meanwhile, his followers have also taken to Twitter to wish him by posting his old pictures and a timeline of his political career.

One of my favourite photos of @mkstalin #HBDStalin pic.twitter.com/i1yCBiwDYf

— Manu S (@manuraj1983) March 1, 2017

வாரிசாக இருந்தாலும் செயல் தலைவராக அமர ஏறி வந்த படிகள் எண்ணிலடங்காதவை .. வாழ்த்துக்கள் @mkstalin #HBDStalin #DMK pic.twitter.com/7Zq1EWp03U

— The Protagonist (@fidonomics) February 28, 2017

#HBDStalin growth path whch u hav had bcz of ur hardwrk of 45 yrs is wt 2de's youth hav 2 learn. HBD dear Thalapathy pic.twitter.com/QtCGXFhy4L

— Shrihari Jagatheesan (@JShrihari) March 1, 2017

3 types will despise him today
1. ADMK other caste & crossbelts
2. NTK licking SL&Ind tamils
3. Sleeper cell SL tamils/NTKians#HBDStalin

— INVICTUS (@_k_u_m) March 1, 2017

Birthday wishes @mkstalin #HBDStalin pic.twitter.com/kvBd3RNGBn

— Vivegam | Ajithpandi (@Ajithpandi) March 1, 2017