Karunanidhi says he has no desire to become CM

“Those who spoke before me said I should be the Chief Minister for the sixth time. But I do not have any such desire. I only wanted to keep the DMK together to prevent it from falling prey to the attacks of its enemies”

DMK president M. Karunanidhi addressing a function organised on the eve of his son M.K. Stalin’s birthday that falls on March 1, in Chennai on Saturday. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam

In what could be a birthday gift to DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, party president M. Karunanidhi on Saturday said he was not driven by the desire to become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the sixth time.

Addressing a function organised on the eve of Mr. Stalin’s birthday that falls on March 1, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was not nurturing any desire to become Chief Minister.

“Those who spoke before me said I should be the Chief Minister for the sixth time. But I do not have any such desire. I only wanted to keep the DMK together to prevent it from falling prey to the attacks of its enemies,” he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said he had participated in the function not just because he was father of Mr. Stalin, who had become the

Thalapathi (general), but also to cherish the event organised to help the poor.