Cheerful Karuna makes first public appearance, DMK cadres ecstatic

Chennai, Oct 20: After a gap of more than a year, five time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi made his first public appearance here last evening. A cheerful looking 93-year-old Mr Karunanidhi, who has recovered from illness after he underwent a tracheostomy procedure following throat and lung infection, visited an exhibition at the office of the Party organ "Murasoli' to commemorate its 75th year celebrations. The expo showcased the 75-year journey of the newspaper, to which Mr Karunandihi has immensely contributed over the last seven decades since its inception in 1942. Mr Karunanidhi, who was clad in a white shirt, dhoti and his usual yellow shawl, went around the expo and also had a look at the wax model of his statue at the premises. The nonagenarian leader sported a broad smile when Senior DMK leader and former Minister Duraimurugan, citing the wax statue, termed it as a double role played by an actor in films. He spent about 45 minutes at the expo during which his son and DMK Working President M K Stalin, former Ministers E V Velu and K Ponmudi were present. The staff members of the Murasoli daily were in jubilant mood after seeing Mr Karunanidhi in public after a gap of nearly an year.  UNI