For Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, Thursday started as usual, at 4 a.m., at his CIT colony residence. But, everything else was different: there was no time for his early morning reading and writing as it was his 86th birthday. And, a crowd of party seniors were waiting to greet him from as early as 3 a.m.
“Today I have time only for my friends and partymen. Not much time for writing or reading,” he said, even as he smiled in acknowledgement of party seniors, who had arrived early in the day.
On most ‘normal' days, Mr. Karunanidhi devotes the ‘quiet time' – from 4 a.m. to close to 7 a.m. – to read, write and make notes of tasks that need attention or need to be accomplished.
On Thursday, he hardly spent a few minutes with Rajathiammal, Kanimozhi and her son Adithyan before the first batch of party seniors – early risers such as T.R. Baalu – greeted him.
Rajya Sabha candidates T.M. Selvaganapathy and K.P. Ramalingam were present. Mr. Karunanidhi planted a sapling and went to his Gopalapuram residence where he cut a cake in the presence of his family members, including Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Union Ministers Dayanaidhi Maran and M.K. Alagiri.
He then paid homage at the samadhis of DMK founder-leader C.N. Annadurai and Dravidar Kazhagam leader E.V. Ramasamy.
By the time he came back to Gopalapuram a huge crowd – including elected representatives of various tiers of governance, civil servants and party workers – had gathered to greet him. Many, who could not meet him here, would take another chance at the party headquarters.
Among those who greeted him at the Gopalapuram residence were Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, Union Minister for Shipping G.K. Vasan, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu group of publications N. Ram, national spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee Jayanthi Natarajan, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leaders G.K. Mani and R. Velu and Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi.
At Anna Arivalayam, party workers waited patiently from much before dawn for a glimpse of their leader.
Though no hundi was kept and no announcement made that contributions could be made to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, some of them gave him money, totalling about Rs.4.83 lakh, most of which was earmarked for the Relief Fund. Others brought with them a range of gifts.
Sonia, PM greet
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary D. Raja and actor Rajinikant conveyed their greetings to him over phone.
Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam, Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy, Bharatiya Janata Party former national vice-president L. Ganesan, Congress Legislature Party leader and deputy leader D. Sudarssanam and D. Yasodha, CPI legislature leader V. Sivapunniyam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol. Thirumavalavan, MGR Kazhagam founder RM. Veerappan were among those who went to the Arivalayam and greeted him.
CPI (Marxist) State Secretary G. Ramakrishnan sent a goodwill message to the DMK leader.
