Karunanidhi turns 95, Mamata extends wishes, DMK celebrates patriarch's birthday

CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) workers gather outside party president M Karunanidhi's residence in Tamil Nadu's in Gopalapuram as he turned 95 on Sunday. Karunanidhi's house has been decked up with flowers and hoardings featuring him and his son, DMK working president MK Stalin. 

Chennai: DMK workers gather outside M Karunanidhi's residence in Gopalapuram on his 95th birthday pic.twitter.com/WOwKkiWFUc — ANI (@ANI) June 3, 2018

Born on June 3, 1924, Muthuvel Karunanidhi served the state five times as the chief minister. He stepped into the world of politics at 14 and in 1969, he became the chief minister for the first time.

The DMK chief, at present, represents the constituency of Tiruvarur in the Tamil Nadu state Legislative Assembly. He has also worked as a script writer in Tamil films.

The veteran Dravidian leader has been out of active politics for several months due to health issues. His son Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP, look after the party affairs. 

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has granted a leave of absence to Karunanidhi because of his unwellness.

Taking to Twitter, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished him on his birthday. "Warmest birthday greetings to M Karunanidhi @kalaignar89 Ji. I pray for your good health and happiness," she said.