Gold rings for newborns, saplings to farmers, blood donation: DMK plans grand celebration of Stalin birthday

A public meeting, which senior political leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge are to attend, would be held in Chennai.

ByPTI

Published Feb 26, 2023 | 7:16 PMUpdatedFeb 26, 2023 | 7:16 PM

Stalin was addressing a mammoth gathering in Coimbatore, where more than 4,000 people from various political parties attended. (Twitter)

The Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK party is making preparations to celebrate the 70th birthday of its president and Chief Minister MK Stalin on 1 March in a grand style.

A slew of events has been lined up, including the gifting of gold rings to newborns, welfare programmes, public meetings, and sporting events.

A public meeting, which senior political leaders including Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge are set to attend, would be held in Chennai, with the DMK’s south district unit organising it.

Jammu Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav are also expected to participate in it.

Stalin to be felicitated

Stalin would be felicitated by the leaders. DMK general secretary Duraimurugan and treasurer TR Baalu are among the party leaders who would be present to honour the party chief at the YMCA ground in Chennai. Thousands of party workers are set to take part in the rally here.

DMK tweeted, “We take great pleasure in inviting all our distinguished guests and leaders who will be joining us for the #HBDMKStalin70 celebrations of our beloved leader, #DravidaNayagan Hon’ble Chief Minister @mkstalin.”

Stalin, born on 1 March, 1953 would be turning 70 and ‘Dravida Nayagan,’ (Dravidian hero) is among the choice terms used by party workers and admirers to praise the DMK president.

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State-wide events to be organised

Gold rings to newborns, saplings to farmers, blood donation camps, hosting community baby shower events, assistance including providing notebooks to students, community lunch, and eye care service by holding eye camps are among the many dozens of state-wide events that are being organised by the DMK on Stalin’s 70th birthday.

As regards sports, cricket and kabaddi tournaments and marathon events are also being planned. Debate programmes are also on the cards. Distribution of sweets, hoisting of party flags and party propaganda meetings are being organised.

Ministers, district secretaries and office-bearers of party wings are holding consultative meetings to deliberate and finalise celebratory events. District heads have announced that welfare assistance would be given to people in their entire regions. The birthday is set to be celebrated by party workers outside Tamil Nadu as well, including Puducherry and Kerala.

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan would be inaugurating a photo exhibition of Stalin in Chennai on 1 March.

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)