The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) cadre will be missing the candidature of K. Anbazhagan, the party’s general secretary, at the elections for the first time since 1957. Affectionately addressed as ‘Perasiriyar’ (professor), he is the senior-most leader in the party.
One of the founding leaders of the DMK in 1949, the nonagenarian was among the 15 party leaders elected to the Assembly in 1957.
Mr. Anbazhagan was elected from the Egmore constituency in his maiden attempt. Party founder C N Annadurai was elected as the DMK Legislature party leader and Mr. Anbazhagan was his deputy and Karunanidhi, the whip.
Since then he has been a regular at the hustings and a star campaigner for the DMK. In the 1962 elections, Mr. Anbazhagan suffered defeat at the hands of a Congress candidate in the same constituency.
When the DMK fielded him in Tiruchengode Lok Sabha constituency in the 1967 general elections, he defeated veteran Congress leader T. M. Kaliyannan. He was elected to the Assembly from Purasaiwakkam constituency in Chennai (1971, 1977 and 1980), Park Town (1984), Anna nagar (1989), Harbour (1996, 2001 and 2006). He suffered defeat in Chepauk (1991) and Villivakkam (2011).
Mr. Anbazhagan, who has been general secretary of DMK for a record 39 years in a row, has been a source of strength for Mr. Karunanidhi and stood by him like a rock during his trials and tribulations.
Mr. Anbazhagan had entered the political arena at a young age. At the invitation of Mr. Karunanidhi, when he was a student of Annamalai University in the 1940s, he addressed a meeting organised by the Ilaignar Manram in Tiruvarur town.
Since then, the two have been maintaining close rapport. He commands the same respect as Mr. Karunanidhi in the party, say the DMK cadre proudly.
Defying age, Mr. Anbazhagan used to go on a whirlwind tour of the entire State during elections, addressing public meetings in the nook and cranny.
Even though, Mr. Anbazhagan will not be contesting the elections, he is expected to campaign for the party.
