MGR made me CM, says Karunanidhi CHENNAI: As leaders of various parties in the Assembly hailed his achievements in the past 18 years as Chief Minister, Karunanidhi recalled nostalgically that it was former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran who made him the CM after the demise of Arignar Anna. “MGR pacified all those who opposed the proposal to make me the CM after Anna. He pacified my family members, including my wife, Murasoli Maran and others. Despite the political differences, I have never forgotten my 40-year-old friendship with MGR,” Karunanidhi said while thanking leaders of various parties in the House. Expressing serious concern over the deteriorating political culture in the State, Karunanidhi said he was jealous of the situation that prevailed in the north.

“Congress president Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader L K Advani sit side by side and exchange pleasantries even though they cross swords politically. I feel jealous about such a culture”, he said adding that in Tamil Nadu too, leaders of parties should come together irrespective of political differences. Recalling the bond that prevailed between late leaders like Rajaji and Periyar, Karunanidhi said that despite his severe criticisms against Kamaraj, he had upheld political decency many a time. Finance Minister K Anbazhagan said some persons used to ask whether Karunanidhi was more scholarly than Anna. “I can’t say if Kalaignar is more scholarly than Anna. But I can certainly say Kalaignar is using his knowledge more than Anna’’, Anbazhagan said in his inimitable professorial way. Congress Legislature party leader D Sudarssanam, Velmurugan (PMK), K Balabharathi (CPM) and V Sivapunniyam (CPI) offered felicitations to Karunanidhi on entering the 19th year as the Chief Minister and on the occasion of the DMK government completing four years in office.