Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Saturday expressed the hope that his government would continue to remain in power for the next five years and implement people-welfare measures.
Addressing a meeting organised by the party on the grounds of Theagaraya College at Washermenpet, Mr. Karunanidhi referred to the Kalaignar Housing Scheme and said all huts in rural areas and towns of the State would be converted into concrete dwelling units in six years.
Making a pause here, he said: “Someone might wonder whether I would be in power till then. I will be there. My government will also be in office,” amid applause from the audience.
Dwelling at length the significance of north Chennai in the DMK's history, he recalled that it was in this part of the city that C.N. Annadurai established the party [in September 1949]. The northern parts of the city had served as a training ground for the party in the formative years of the organisation.
Referring to the party deputy general secretary and Law Minister Durai Murugan's description of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) as a sinking ship, Mr Karunanidhi said the party, founded by his long-time friend M.G. Ramachandran, was proceeding in the wrong direction. This was why a committed worker such as P.K. Sekar Babu joined the DMK.
[The meeting was held to formalise the entry of the Mr. Sekar Babu and his supporters into the DMK.]
Deputy Chief Minister and party treasurer M.K. Stalin referred to the coming Assembly elections and said Mr. Karunanidhi would become Chief Minister for the sixth time.
Among those who participated were K. Ponmudy, Villupuram district secretary of the DMK and Higher Education Minister, Arcot N. Veeraswami, principal secretary and Electricity Minister, and T.K. S. Elangovan, North Chennai Member of Parliament.
