CHENNAI: DMK treasurer MK Stalin has been unanimously elected as the working president of the party by the general council that met at party headquarters. Missing in the meeting was party president M Karunanidhi as he is not keeping well. "I feel exuberant when I became the organiser and secretary of the youth wing, deputy general secretary of the party and subsequently its treasurer. But now I am assuming the office of the working president with a heavy heart as it is happening at a time when our party leader is not well," said Stalin.
A resolution was also passed by party general secretary K Anbazhagan to make amendments in the by-laws to create the new post, making it clear that the working president will have all the powers of the president. The move was seconded by the party's principal secretary Duraimurugan. It was an emotional moment for the party. Recalling the speech of DMK founder CN Annadurai at the party's 1965 conference urging VR Nedunchezhian to preside over, Duraimurugan said, "Anna said 'Thambi Vaa. Thalaimai Thaanga Vaa' (Younger brother come forward to lead). I borrow his words."
A visibly moved Stalin later sought blessings from his father in Gopalapuram, as several general council members broke down. “I will implement the wish of our leader,” Stalin said after the meeting. “When I became the Mayor of Chennai, our leader said it was not a position but a responsibility. I consider the working president post as a responsibility," he added.
