After years of waiting, DMK Treasurer and heir apparent MK Stalin was elevated to the post of “Working President” at the party’s General Council meeting in Chennai on Wednesday. His 92-year-old father M Karunanidhi, who has been in and out hospital over the last few weeks, will remain the titular President of the DMK.
As the elevation of Stalin to his new post required amendment of the DMK by-laws, a special resolution was mooted for this purpose. First, a resolution to amend the by-laws was proposed by RS Bharati, following which a resolution to appoint Stalin to the post of Working President was proposed by party General Secretary K Anbazhagan and seconded by Duraimurugan.
The General Council meeting was also notable for the significant absence of the party chief Karunanidhi, who opted to skip the meeting due to his ill health.
Speaking to members at the meet, Stalin said, "I have been asked to take over as Working President at a time when Kalaignar is ill. So, I am not here to say thanks or feel happy, but just to humby accept."
Besides the special resolution to appoint Stalin as Working President, the Council passed a total of 16 resolutions.
The meeting opened with expressions of condolence on the deaths of late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, social commentator Cho Ramaswamy and former Cuban President Fidel Castro, among others. Following this, the General Council issued a resolution condemning demonetisation for the “sufferings it has caused to the millions of the poor”.
The Council also condemned the fact that large amounts of black money had been recovered in the state, and that black money cases involved persons linked to the AIADMK.
The Council also moved that the state be immediately declared drought-hit, and all farmer loans waived and relief provided to farmers.