TN leaders pay tribute to DMK founder and former CM C N Annadurai at Marina Beach rally

Tamil Nadu witnessed widespread homage on Tuesday as political leaders from across party lines paid rich tributes to former Chief Minister Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , fondly known as Perarignar Anna , on his 57th death anniversary. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin , AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami , and numerous senior leaders and party workers participated in commemorations at the Anna Memorial on Marina Beach, Chennai.

Chief Minister Stalin joined a procession from Chepauk to Marina Beach , accompanied by cabinet ministers, MLAs, MPs, and large numbers of supporters, to offer floral tributes at the memorial of the DMK founder. Following the tribute, he addressed a rally on Wallajah Road, Chennai , recalling Annadurai’s enduring legacy as a social reformer and architect of Tamil identity and politics. In his remarks, Stalin said, “Anna is the conscience of Tamils. Not just on his anniversary, but every single day we remember Anna.” He emphasised how Annadurai’s memory permeates public life through landmarks such as Anna Salai, Anna Flyover, Anna Library, and Anna Bus Terminus. Stalin also underscored the continued relevance of Annadurai’s ideals in shaping Tamil Nadu’s cultural and political identity.

Stalin further paid respects at the memorial of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at Anna Square, highlighting the lineage of Dravidian leadership that followed Annadurai. Crowds thronged the memorial throughout the morning, demonstrating the deep public reverence for the leader.

AIADMK leader Palaniswami, clad in a black shirt in symbolic respect, along with senior party figures including K P Munuswamy and Dindigul Srinivasan , also visited the memorial to lay wreaths. On social media platform X, he declared it the duty of the AIADMK, a party that traces its ideological roots to Annadurai, to uphold his principles and work to “rescue Tamil Nadu from the clutches of ‘evil’ forces” and end the current DMK rule in the state.

In addition to the main rallies, tributes to Annadurai traditionally extend beyond a single event. Past anniversaries have seen leaders from various parties, including former Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam , V K Sasikala , and other regional figures, offer floral tributes and participate in community programmes across the state, underscoring his broad influence across political divides.

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai (September 15, 1909 – February 3, 1969) was a pioneering Dravidian leader who fought caste discrimination, promoted social equality, and championed Tamil identity. He began with the Justice Party, helped build Dravida Kazhagam under Periyar, and founded the DMK in 1949. Elected Chief Minister in 1967, he implemented popular reforms including subsidised rice, free higher secondary education, self-respect marriages, and the two-language education formula. He renamed Madras State as Tamil Nadu in 1969 but passed away the same year. His enduring legacy shapes Tamil Nadu through social justice, linguistic pride, and regional autonomy, commemorated across institutions and landmarks.