Chennai, June 3 (IANS) The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday commemorated the 103rd birth anniversary of its patriarch and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, with party president M.K. Stalin paying floral tributes at the late leader’s memorial on Chennai’s Marina Beach.

The event was witnessed by senior party leaders, ministers, legislators, and DMK cadres gathering at the memorial to honour the towering Dravidian leader, who served as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister five times and played a defining role in shaping the state’s political and social landscape.

Marking the occasion, Stalin shared an emotional message on X, recalling Karunanidhi’s lifelong commitment to the welfare of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people.

Describing Karunanidhi as a “Tamil national leader,” Stalin said the former Chief Minister remained dedicated to public service until his final days despite advancing age and physical limitations.

“He was a great leader who continued to work tirelessly for the Tamil nation and for the progress of the people of Tamil Nadu until his last breath, even while confined to a wheelchair in his later years,” Stalin wrote.

The DMK president said Karunanidhi continues to be a guiding force in his political journey and credited him with providing the strength to face both victories and setbacks with equal determination.

“Without allowing success to go to my head or failure to weigh down my heart, I have been able to navigate every challenge because of the strength you instilled in me,” Stalin said in his tribute.

Reflecting on the DMK’s recent electoral setback, Stalin acknowledged that the party had lost an opportunity to remain in power but asserted that Karunanidhi’s ideals and resilience continue to inspire not only him but also thousands of party workers nurtured by the late leader.

He noted that the strength and values imparted by Karunanidhi had helped the DMK secure successive electoral victories in the past and steer Tamil Nadu on what he described as a path of progress and development.

Stalin concluded his message with a call for renewed determination among party cadres, expressing confidence that the DMK would once again script a new chapter of electoral success.

“We will create a new history of victory. With the light of the Rising Sun, we will dispel the darkness surrounding Tamil Nadu,” he said, invoking the DMK’s party symbol and reaffirming the party’s resolve to return to power.

–IANS

aal/skp