Stalin keeping fine, will meet public today

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s non-availability at his office on Saturday evening led to speculation that he is unwell, but the 67-year-old DMK president on Sunday turned up at the residence of actor and DMDK chief Vijayakanth in Virugambakam in the metropolis.

Stalin also inducted a former Anna DMK minister into his party on Sunday.

Besides, it was announced on Sunday that Stalin will receive petitions directly from the public at the Secretariat on Monday at 10 am. He will hear their grievances.

Officials said Stalin was paying a courtesy call to the actor-politician who was known to be having health worries of late.

Vijayakanth, who was politically unaligned with the ruling DMK, offered a donation of one million rupees to the Chief Minister’s Covid Relief Fund, officials said.

Stalin enquired about Vijayakanth’s health. DMK’S veteran leader and Minister Duraimurugan and Andimuthu Raja MP accompanied Stalin.

Vijaykanth’s wife was accompanied and their two sons were present.

Officials did not confirm whether the two discussed politics.

Former ADMK minister Thoppu ND Venkatachalam joined the DMK along with a few hundreds of his supporters, in the presence of Stalin on Sunday at the party headquarters Anna

Arivalayam. Venkatachalam said: “If the DMK chief gives me one month’s time, I will bring at least 25,000 supporters to the party.”

Venkatachalam, a two-term MLA, was denied ticket this year by the ADMK. He was revenue minister in the Jayalalithaa cabinet from 2011 to 2016.

Stalin’s non-availability at his office on Saturday evening was seen unusual and sparked rumours that he is unwell.

Since taking office on May 7, Stalin was keeping a routine of being available to the public in the morning and evening at the Secretariat office. He would go home for lunch and return in the evening. Officials said he had been spending more time on the state budget which is due soon.

On Saturday morning, Stalin was at his office at 10:15am, and held meetings on environment and forestry and agriculture with ministers and officials.

He also met sponsors of the Covid relief fund. But later in the evening he cancelled all engagements and stayed home.

Meanwhile, Covid cases continued to dip in Tamil Nadu. Officials said on Sunday that the state saw a fall below 3,000 on Saturday, reporting 2,913 new cases in the past 24 hours.

The total number of infections has touched 25,16,011.