Birthday bash for octogenarian Karunanidhi

Chennai, June 3 (UNI) It was an unprecedented birthday bash for DMK patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who turned 84 today, with the leader appealing to the Tamil youths to strive for making Tamil an official language and interlinking of rivers.

The celebrations were special for more than one reason as it coincided with his golden jubilee in the State Assembly and his record fifth term as Chief Minister.

Such a colourful celebration was not seen earlier as the DMK cadres virtually painted the State red and black (the party flag colour), with party flags, colourful festoons and cutouts of the Dravidian stalwart put up in all districts.

National leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, greeted Mr Karunanidhi over phone on the occasion. Malaysian PWD Minister Datto Samivelu also greeted him over phone.

Ms Gandhi's emissary and Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, accompanied by party MLAs, met him during the birthday celebrations at the DMK headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' and conveyed her best wishes to him.

Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala and leaders of various parties, including TNCC President M Krishnasamy, Congress Legislature Party Leader D Sudarsanam, PMK Founder-leader S Ramadoss, PMK President G K Mani and CPI senior leader R Nallakannu, also extended their greetings to the octogenarian leader. The BJP leaders also met the Chief Minister and wished him.

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