The Congress and the DMK MLAs on Friday paid rich encomiums to DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on the occasion of his 94th birthday on June 3.
The AIADMK members staged a walkout in protest against the Speaker’s decision to allow members to extend birthday greetings to the DMK patriarch.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said that Mr. Karunanidhi’s political acumen, administrative skills and sharp intellect had earned the encomiums of all sections of people.
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He had made a mark at the national level with his administrative capabilities. Mr. Karunanidhi had been Chief Minister five times and the Leader of Opposition for 10 years.
PWD Minister A. Namassivayam said that Mr. Karunanidhi championed the rights of the people and stood firm on various challenging developments.
The Minister said Mr. Karunanidhi contributed a lot to the socio-economic development of the marginalised sections.
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‘University in politics’
Both as a Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition he functioned like a university in politics. Most of his schemes were emulated in Puducherry and he made personal contributions which were a hallmark of his administrative skills and capacity.
Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy said that leaders of various political parties would be participating in the function and this would pave the way for a new political environment. Revenue Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan said he had introduced several pioneering efforts for the welfare of farmers and it was he who first announced the free power supply scheme for farmers.