CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu political leaders on Saturday paid rich tributes to DK founder E V Ramasamy (Periyar) and AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran on their death anniversary. Chief minister M K Stalin paid floral tributes to Periyar's portrait at Anna Salai in Chennai to mark his 49th death anniversary.
"Periyar was a nightmare to his rivals. Even 49 years after his death, Periyarism still thrives with the same vigor. It will bring down Ariyanism," said Stalin, in a tweet. "Periyar was more than just flesh and blood. He is an idea. And his ideas are enduring," said Stalin.
Sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin paid respect to Periyar by garlanding his statue in Karaikudi. "In the battle against dominance, Periyar's name and ideology are a weapon to rattle our enemies," said Udhayanidhi in a tweet. PMK founder S Ramadoss, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran and DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakant paid their respects to Periyar. Meanwhile, the AIADMK factions paid floral tributes to MGR at his memorial on the Marina beachfront on the leader's 35th death anniversary. They took a pledge separately to win the general elections and unseat the DMK government.
Palaniswami and his supporters pledged to expose the DMK's "dynasty politics and failure to implement the party's election promises". Former AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran, and V K Sasikala, along with cadres, paid respects at the memorial.
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