Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Monday indicated that he would soon come to the conclusion that it was preferable to be the party president, rather than Chief Minister.
“If you are asked whether you all would prefer me to be the DMK president or Chief Minister of the State, your answer will be overwhelmingly in favour of the DMK chief's post. I will come to the same conclusion soon,” he said, amid applause from the audience that included Union Ministers, State Ministers and leaders of different parties.
He was addressing a function to solemnise the wedding of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister K.R. Periyakaruppan's son at Anna Arivalayam here.
Cheerful response
The Chief Minister pointed out that the people responded more cheerfully when Mr. Periyakaruppan was identified as the Sivaganga district secretary of the DMK than as Minister.
“Just as you show greater enthusiasm when his party post is referred to, I too have a similar desire.”
In an interview to The Hindu in May last year, the Chief Minister went on record, saying that the decision regarding his contesting the Assembly polls had not yet been made.
“Nothing can separate me from literature, politics and the public service till my last breath,” he said, adding that he would continue to serve people in one way or the other.
His reply then was to the question whether he would like to contest the next Assembly elections.
The question was raised in the context of the debate triggered by his statement in December 2009 that he would like to step aside from the positions of power and politics to get closer to people.
