M Karunanidhi homage planned ahead of Stalin elevation

The party has planned four meetings at four different cities spread across the state in the next two weeks. Party sources in the know revealed that eminent personalities from the three fields, media, literature and politics (cinema would be held later) Karunanidhi excelled in would be invited. The first tribute by journalists would be held at Tiruchy on August 17, followed by litterateurs at Raja Muthiah Hall in Madurai on August 19. A meeting of all party leaders would take place at Tirunelveli on August 26. 

Leader of various political parties in the state would descend on Tirunelveli on August 26. The culmination would be at Chennai where the scheduled ‘State Autonomy and Federalism’ meeting to be attended by national dignitaries would likely be converted into a homage meet to Karunanidhi. “The party has already shortlisted journalists and writers for the first two meetings. We are not sure if Stalin will attend the Tiruchy and Madurai meetings, but he will definitely attend Tirunelveli and Chennai meeting,” a source close to the party leadership said. 

Following the homage meetings, the general council of the party is likely to meet here on September 1 to elect Stalin as the party president. The executive council, which meets here on August 14, would pass resolutions condoling the demise of the leader and announce the schedule of the planned homage meetings across the state. Ironically, the demise of Karunanidhi, which prompted Stalin to delay his elevation, has not deterred his siblings Alagiri and Kanimozhi, who have been keeping rumour mills spinning overtime about their reported elevation in the party. Rumours abound in Anna Arivalayam about the estranged brother and Rajya Sabha MP sister of Stalin vying for increased political stakes.