Stalin ‘changes’ DMK tradition, posts Independence Day wishes

For a person who considers penning letters to his cadre a routine and who proudly claims credit for winning chief minister’s the right to hoist national flag on Independence Day, it has always been a day off on August 15, a day welcomed by his political mentor and party founder CN Annadurai even as early as 1947. However, Stalin ended the silence by wishing all his fellow Indians this morning. 

His lieutenants like Chepauk MLA J Anbazhagan also followed suit. 

The party has also got its deputy general secretary VP Duraisamy to unfurl the tricolour at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam on Monday morning, a custom being followed for four years now. 

Party insiders admit that Stalin knows that change is a constant thing in politics. 

“Every party is doing it, if we do not, we will be isolated.” A leader close to the DMK treasurer said, owing the change to Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarish and his PR team who had him visiting Veilankanni church and Ramanujar temple before the Assembly election. 

Even old timers, like Dravidian scholar K Thirunavukkarasu, justified the Independence Day greeting and said, “When Periyar called it a black day, Anna welcomed it. He described it as a happy day. So Stalin’s greeting should not surprise.” 

Elsewhere in Congress, leadership crisis has offered its legislature party leader KR Ramasamy a chance to unfurl the flag in Satyamurthy Bhavan, an event usually reserved for the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) chief and something the party prides in celebrating. 

The uncertainty on who would do the honours at the Satyamurthy Bhavan continued till an official statement was issued late Saturday.