Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin garlanded the statue of late Forward Bloc leader Muthuramalinga Thevar in Goripalayam, Madurai city on Monday, October 30, 2023.
Marking the 116th Thevar Jayanthi celebrations and the 61st guru puja ceremony of the late freedom fighter, Mr. Stalin paid his tributes by garlanding the life-size statue.
The CM was accompanied by T.N. Ministers P. Moorthy, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, senior DMK functionaries, MLA G. Thalapathi, Madurai Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth, among others.
Later, Mr. Stalin laid the foundation stones for the construction of two flyovers, and then proceeded by road to Pasumpon village in Ramanathapuram district, where he is expected to pay tributes at the MuthuramalingaThever memorial.
Other leaders pay tribute too
Several leaders of other political parties also paid tribute at the Thevar statue.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko garlanded the statue in Madurai. Addressing journalists, he said he had seen the late leader when he had been young, and this had been one of the factors in his decision to enter politics.
“In Madurai, Thevar was instrumental in allowing the so-called untouchables into temples, and he is a leader who eclipses all caste identities,” Mr. Vaiko said. “Thevar’s role as a freedom fighter is laudable. Thevar is presently respected by leaders of various parties and identities, which is a point of pride,” he said.
BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant jointly paid tributes to the statue of Thevar. “On behalf of my party I have come here to pay homage to the leader who is considered great in the land of Tamil Nadu,” said Mr. Sawant.
Madurai Member of Parliament Su. Venkatesan, AIADMK’s former coordinator, O. Panneerselvam, AIADMK leader and Member of Legislative Assembly Sellur K. Raju, Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman, AIADMK’s former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran and DMDK treasurer Premalatha Vijayakant were among those who also garlanded the statue and paid their respects.
