Chennai: Rich tributes were paid to former Tamilnadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on the occasion of his first death anniversary.
His son and DMK president M K Stalin along with senior party leaders took out a silent procession from the arterial Anna Salai to his memorial and paid floral tributes.
DMK Lok Sabha MPs Kanimozhi, A Raja, Tamizhachi Thangapandian, MLAs and party functionaries also took part in the rally.
Stalin’s elder brother and expelled DMK leader M K Alagiri and his family members also paid floral tributes at his memorial.
Leaders of the alliance parties of the DMK, including MDMK general secetary Vaiko, besides film lyricist Vairamuthu also paid tributes at the memorial of Karunanidhi to mark the occasion.
Later in the day, a statue of Karunanidhi would be unveiled at office of DMK party organ Murasoli and a memorial meeting would be held, in which West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, other national leaders and those from DMK’s alliance parties would participate.
The meeting assumes significance as the Opposition parties flayed the BJP-led government at the Centre for abrogating Article 370 and deciding to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.
Speakers at the meeting were expected to further vent their anger against the Centre for bifurcating J and K. Mamata, who reached Chennai from Kolkata last evening, tweeted this morning: “Tribute to M Karunanidhi, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, on his death anniversary.”