It's a New Birth for Me: MK Stalin After Elected DMK President

Chennai, Aug 28: After being elected as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president on Tuesday in the party's general body meeting, MK Stalin said it is a new birth for him, adding that India's federalism was under threat. "This is a new beginning. The threat to secularism is growing very big and central government is threatening the basic federalism of the country. I can't speak like Karunanidhi, but I have all courage like Anna and Karunanidhi. Even if Karunanidhi is not here now, his ideology is there with us. DMK is more important and bigger than any individual," said the newly-elected party chief. Stalin also asserted that he would continue his fight against the "imposition of Hindi in the state" and ensure that freedom of speech was not tampered with.

Meanwhile, Stalin's half-sister and DMK leader Kanimozhi said the election of Stalin has instilled confidence in the party cadres. "There was never an iota of doubt about DMK's future after the demise of Karunanidhi. Everyone knew Stalin was capable of the top job. Stalin's coronation has given confidence to DMK cadres. Every cadre has a moment when he feels proud of the person leading the party. That moment for me was during Karunanidhi's hospitalisation. Stalin was very worried if he could satisfy his father's wish of a burial at Anna memorial," she asserted.

In addition to Stalin's appointment as the DMK chief, the party's Principal Secretary Duraimurugan took charge today officially as the Treasurer.

A total of 1907 party leaders and workers had either proposed or seconded Stalin's name for the post, while Duraimurugan garnered the support of 252 persons.

Stalin's elevation comes at a time when expelled party leader and Karunanidhi's elder son, MK Alagiri, claimed that the loyal supporters of his father were behind him. During the meeting, DMK supporters also urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to posthumously confer Bharat Ratna to Karunanidhi.

By M Ronald Jabaraj