DMK Celebrates 78th Foundation Day, Udhayanidhi Stalin Highlights Political Accessibility

Chennai, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : Udhayanidhi Stalin, the youth wing secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), marked the party’s 78th foundation day on September 17 in Chennai. He emphasized that the DMK has worked to ensure that politics is not confined to privileged classes but is accessible to the common people.

In a post on the social media platform X, Udhayanidhi recalled that the DMK was founded on a rainy day when C.N. Annadurai, at just 40 years old, launched the party alongside his young associates, including a 20-year-old M. Karunanidhi.

He noted that whether in power or in opposition, the DMK has consistently elevated Tamil society throughout its 78-year journey. Udhayanidhi stated that the party’s politics is rooted in core principles such as social justice, states’ rights, women’s empowerment, and industrial development. He highlighted the DMK’s significant role in shaping Tamil Nadu‘s political and social landscape, from renaming Madras state to Tamil Nadu to advocating for greater rights for states.

The DMK was established on September 17, 1949, when C.N. Annadurai separated from the Dravida Kazhagam, led by social reformer E.V. Ramasamy. The party’s first meeting took place in Robinson Park, Royapuram, Chennai, amid heavy rain, with Annadurai serving as its first general secretary.

While the Dravida Kazhagam remained focused on social reform and shunned electoral politics, the DMK chose to engage in elections to advance its objectives. Under Annadurai’s leadership, the DMK formed its first government in Tamil Nadu in 1967, ending the Congress party’s long-standing dominance. Following Annadurai’s passing, M. Karunanidhi led the party for nearly five decades, and it is now under the leadership of M.K. Stalin.

Udhayanidhi remarked that despite oppression, political crises, and emerging new opponents, the DMK continues to progress under M.K. Stalin’s leadership. He declared, “Black and red are not just colors; they are our lives.” As the party approaches its centenary year, he urged activists to work with dedication and wished for a long and strong future for the DMK.