Chennai: A day after his autobiography Ungalil Oruvan was launched in the presence of leaders from across the country including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister M K Stalin today celebrated his 69th birthday amid greetings from heads of political parties, Ministers and DMK cadres. This is his first birthday after becoming CM last year.
Stalin started the day by paying floral tributes at the memorials of DMK founder C N Annadurai and his father M Karunanidhi, both former Chief Ministers.
Since Stalin had already asked DMK cadres to not indulge in grand celebrations to mark his birthay, party functionaries organised welfare events across the State.
On Monday evening, in what was seen as a politically significant event, teaders of various anti-BJP parties came together with Rahul Gandhi launching the Part-1 of Stalin’s autobiography (political journey) ‘Ungalil Oruvan’ (One among you) on his birthday eve.
The function was held at the sprawling Chennai Trade Centre and was attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, besides several leaders and allies of the DMK.
Rahul Gandhi released the book and the first copy was received by DMK general secretary and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan.
Stalin said the autobiography would cover the first 23 years of his life up to 1976. ‘The book will cover school and college days, entry into politics, first meeting and my public speech, marriage and the days of emergency,’ he said.
The book release event is seen as a platform to unite all parties opposed to the BJP and form a formidable front in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The ruling DMK has already reached out to several top National leaders and Stalin too was in touch with counterparts in Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal and extended an invitation for the event, which political observers see it as a move to forge a front of regional parties against the BJP.
DMK Parliamentary Party Leader T R Baalu personally handed over the invite to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi last week and she deputed Rahul Gandhi for the event.
Sources said the event is an attempt to bring together leaders of non-BJP political parties in the country. DMK had been opposing various schemes of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, including the National Education Policy, the amendments to CAA and the Farmer’s laws, besides seeking exemption for Tamil Nadu from NEET, for which an unanimous resolution–the second in five months–had been adopted in the State Assembly and forwarded to the Governor for getting the Presidential assent.
There is a clear political message in the timing of Rahul Gandhi’s visit as it comes barely two weeks after All India Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to Stalin as well as the Telangana counterpart K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) to forge a front of regional parties against the BJP.
KCR followed up on the issue of forming a front of like-minded regional parties by calling Janata Dal-Secular leader and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief, Uddhav Thackeray recently.