M Karunanidhi, the DMK chief, is on the way to set a new national record. He has been declared as the chief ministerial candidate of the DMK by none other than MK Stalin, his second son by Dayalu Ammal, his second wife. The Assembly election to Tamil Nadu is scheduled for 2016. By that time Karunanidhi would be 92 (though his contemporaries claim he would be 94) and would be the oldest leader in the history of modern India to lead a political party in an electoral battle. K Anpazhagan, the 93-year-old general secretary of the DMK said the party would win hands down if election is held right now. “We will win in the 2016 election. If the elections are held in 2015 also, we will win,” claimed Anpazhagan.
Stalin, who has been pressurizing his nonagenarian father to vacate the chair of the pasty chief in his favour, made this announcement while addressing the C N Annadurai Birthday Meeting organised by the DMK at Chennai late Monday. Karunanidhi, his family members (except Dayalu Ammal) and other party leaders were present when Stalin (62), who is the treasurer of the DMK and the president of the youth wing made the announcement. Karunanidhi, blushed with joy, was seen nodding at the audience who welcomes the declaration with a thunderous applause.