Chennai: After having decided to convert his father and party chief M Karunanidhi’s 94th birthday celebrations into an anti-BJP spectacle, the DMK Working President M.K. Stalin, on Sunday, exhorted party workers to make the event on June 3, which would see the participation of almost all national opposition leaders, a ‘turning point’ in Indian politics.

Though Mr Karunanidhi is confined to his home due to age-related illness since October 2016, the DMK decided to celebrate his 94th birthday in a grand manner and convert it into an anti-BJP conglomeration since the date falls ahead of the Presidential polls.

The DMK has been targeting the BJP and its government for trying to demolish and wipe out “Dravidianism” from Tamil Nadu and elsewhere.

Since the ruling AIADMK dispensation appears favourably disposed towards the BJP and the Union Government, Mr Stalin decided to quickly convert the birthday platform into a dais for Opposition leaders that would send more of political messages than birthday wishes.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, JD (U) President Sharad Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and CPI’s D. Raja are expected to participate in the gala event at the YMCA ground here next Saturday.

In a letter penned to party workers on Sunday, Mr Stalin said that at a time when Mr Karunanidhi is taking a rest, working to fulfil his ideals will be the best birthday gift to him. Hailing Mr Karunanidhi as a “leader who has worked for the development of the Tamil society for 80 long years without respite”, Mr Stalin is listing several development initiatives and welfare measures launched during the previous DMK regimes.

“Karunanidhi has taken the place of an “illustrious leader of big achievements” not only in the state’s history but also in the Indian democratic annals. Let us make the celebrations a turning point in Indian politics. Let Tamil Nadu’s capital city turn a sea of black and red (the colours of DMK’s flag) and its reverberations reach New Delhi,” he told the DMK workers.