MGR's birth anniversry celebrated

Chennai, Jan 17: AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa led her partymen in celebrating the 95th birth anniversary of party founder and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran even as she had asked party workers to take a vow to determine the future of Indian politics.

Jayalalithaa, who rode to power on the massive anti-incumbency wave in the April 13 elections last year, had on the eve of her mentor's birthday exhorted her partymen to gear up to take the victory "beyond the borders of Tamil Nadu and reach the top spot in Indian politics," and determine its future.

She garlanded the statue of MGR, as Ramachandran is fondly addressed, at the party headquarters here and released a special souvenir on the occasion today.

While unveiling the statues of Dravidian veteran C N Annadurai and MGR, installed at Kallakurichi through video conferencing, she also disbursed educational assistance of Rs 45.57 lakh to 115 students.

Making perfect use of his charismatic on-screeen presence, MGR later on went to take the political stage by storm when he founded the AIADMK in 1972 upon expulsion from DMK following differences with its chief M Karunanidhi.

Known for his swashbuckling roles in many a Tamil film, Ramachandran managed to endear him as a darling of masses, in the process carving a niche space for himself in Tamil Nadu politics.

A two-time Chief Minister who remained in office till his death in 1987, MGR is also a recipient of India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, and was instrumental in launching Jayalalithaa into active politics.

PTI