CHENNAI -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy on Thursday said that the state government had decided to hold year-long celebrations of the birth centenary of AIADMK founder late MG Ramachandran this year.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by him on May 2 last, Palanisamy said.
"On behalf of the state government, MGR's birth centenary will be celebrated throughout the year in all district headquarters," he said in a statement.
Palanisamy said late chief minister Ramachandran, whose birth centenary was celebrated on January 17 this year, always strived for welfare of the poor and downtrodden, adding, programmes will be held to highlight the AIADMK founder's 'achievements.'
A former matinee idol born in 1917, Ramachandran was initially a member of DMK, but later broke away from it following differences with its chief M Karunanidhi. Fondly addressed as MGR, he founded AIADMK in 1972, and the party won the Dindigul Lok Sabha bypoll the next year. MGR led his party to a massive victory in the 1977 assembly polls, becoming Chief Minister for the first time.
He went on to rule the state another two terms.
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