Emotional Karunanidhi stresses on development mantra

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today became emotional and broke down as he exhorted partymen and leaders of various parties in the House to take a pledge to work for the development of the country and society, on the occasion of his golden jubilee in the Legislature.

''Let us all take a pledge to work for the prosperity of the country and development of the society,'' he said in an emotion choked voice, responding to the felicitations offered by Governor S S Barnala and leaders of various parties, including Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), CPI(M), CPI and Dalit Panthers of India (DPI).

''The felicitations offered by you all will be meaningful only if we rededicate ourselves to the cause of development of the people, the country and the society,'' he said adding that ''I will be too willing to serve, taking orders from you.'' Turning nostalgic, Mr Karunanidhi, recalling his first entry into the House after getting elected from Kulithalai in 1957, broke down when he referred to his mentor Anna (late Chief Minister C N Annadurai) and said after a pause, how he missed him today.

Even as he was fighting to control his emotions, party members, including some of his Ministerial colleagues, were moved to tears as poignant scenes were witnessed in the House.

The DMK President, however, in his own inimitable style, plunged the House into laughter when he laced his acceptance speech with witty remarks of his long innings in the House.

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