With DMK chief Karunanidhi unwell, Alagiri says no to birthday bash in Madurai

Madurai: Former Union Fertilizer minister in the previous UPA government and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s elder son, M.K. Alagiri, whose birthday celebrations used to be gala affair drawing the rich and mighty, would be a low key affair this time.

As the never-say-die Alagiri turns 68 on January 30, he has asked his supporters to celebrate his birthday with elders, offer 'shram dhaan' in orphanages that day and spend time with differently-abled people, besides distributing welfare assistance to the elderly and the needy.

Alagiri's birthday always used to a big celebration in the city with hundreds of his followers gathering at his house at T.V.S Nagar since early hours. The ceremony would include Alagiri cutting the birthday cake in the presence of his family members at his residence, then visit Raja Muthiah Mandram to celebrate the day with thousands of his supporters from across the state. En route, Alagiri would stop every 100-m to receive wishes from his supporters greeting him from roadside.

Even after he was removed from the party, Alagiri's supporters organised a grand birthday bash on January 30. Only last year, the event was organised at Dhaya marriage hall near his house.

Though posters have appeared in the temple city wishing him for the birthday, Alagiri wants it be a low-key affair this year. Pointing out that his father and DMK president M Karunanidhi was not keeping well, Alagiri appealed to his supporters to celebrate his birthday helping elders and differently-abled people. He has also appealed to his supporters to distribute notebooks to children belonging to poor families.

Alagiri further urged his supporters to avoid meeting him in person on his birthday and instead serve the poor in need on January 30.