The political journey of M Karunanidhi: A timeline

1/13

Karunanidhi, who was affectionately called 'Kalaignar' by his supporters, left an impregnable impression on the political map of Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi was chief minister of Tamil Nadu five times and successfully contested 12 state elections, building legions of supporters on the way.

Here is a look at his political journey:

Born as Dakshinamurthy to Muthuvelu and Anjugam Ammayar in Thirukkuvalai village in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam district on 3rd June, 1924, he later changed his name to Karunanidhi.

In 1938, when he was 14-years-old, a young Karunanidhi enamoured by Dravidian ideology became a student activist in EV Ramasamy or ‘Periyar’s’ Self-Respect Movement.

After leaving school, in the 1940s, Karunanidhi got into writing plays for theatre groups. He also turned editor of ‘Kudi Arasu’ a Tamil weekly magazine published by Periyar. In 1942, he circulated 8-page handwritten newspaper, Manavar Nesan, which later becomes Murasoli, the official DMK newspaper. He also founded Tamil Nadu Tamil Manavar Mandram, a student organisation that grew into DMK student wing.

Following India’s independence when Periyar’s socio-political movement spawned a political party, Karunanidhi joined the DMK founded by CN Annadurai (right), in 1949.

In 1944, he joined Jupiter Pictures as screenwriter and post-independence in 1947, Rajakumari, the first film he scripted was released.

By 1952, Karunanidhi had also made a mark in the Tamil film industry, with scripts drawing on the idea of a Dravidian uprising. The most famous of the series of movies was ‘Parasakthi’ released in 1952, starring Sivaji Ganesan.

He made his first mark on the political landscape with the Kallakudi agitation in 1953. When the New Delhi headquartered Dalmia Cements set up a plant in Kallakudi, Trichy and renamed the town to Dalmiapuram, Karunanidhi and other DMK leaders laid themselves over railway tracks protesting the name change of the station. He was jailed for three months.

In the 1957, at the age of 33 he won the Kulithalai (Karur district) seat in the state assembly elections. In 1961 Karunanidhi was appointed treasurer of the DMK and in 1962, he was appointed as the deputy leader of opposition in the state assembly.

After CN Annadurai expired in 1969, Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the first leader of DMK.

In 1972, MG Ramachandran or MGR, renowned actor and charismatic political figure, left the DMK and went on to launch his own party, the ADMK. During MGR’s time as head of ADMK, Karunanidhi and the DMK suffered multiple electoral defeats. In 1976, Indira Gandhi dismisses DMK govt on charges of corruption.

The state assembly elections in 1989, finally saw the DMK led by Karunanidhi as Chief Minister, coming back to power after MGR’s death two years before.

The DMK government however was dismissed in 1991 by then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, on the grounds that the party encouraged Lankan extremist groups in the state. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated that year by a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The DMK government however was dismissed in 1991 by then Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, on the grounds that the party encouraged Lankan extremist groups in the state. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated that year by a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Karunanidhi managed to bring the DMK party to power once again in 1996 on the strength of the corruption charges against J.Jayalalithaa and the DMK’s alliance with the GK Moopanar led Tamil Maanila Congress.

In pic: Karunanidhi began an indefinite fast to protest against the Sri Lankan government, after they rejected an unilateral ceasefire announced by the Tamil Tigers.

Karunanidhi was also instrumental in the choice of Deve Gowda and IK Gujral for prime ministers, in 1996 and 1997 as a part of the Janata Dal (United Front) government.

He allied with the BJP-Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1999 but walked out of the alliance in December 2003, tying up with the Congress instead and helping it secure a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

In 2006, again, the Karunandhi led the DMK government to victory in the state elections on the back of a manifesto that promised free colour televisions and rice for Rs 1 per kg.

Even though the party did not come back to power after 2011, the DMK patriarch had maintained an active role in politics until crippling health issues ruled out active participation.

Following former AIADMK chief minister Jayalalithaa's death, the DMK patriarch paid tributes to her stating despite their political differences, there was no doubt that she had worked for her partymen's welfare and that her fame would remain forever.