With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for next year, DMK President M Karunanidhi today appealed for generous contribution from his partymen for fighting the polls, saying those who pay a visit to him should also make contributions in this regard.
Incidentally, "in all party programmes attended by me, General Secretary (K Anbazhagan) of Treasurer (M K Stalin) election fund contribution should be made," he said in a letter to partymen.
The DMK patriarch, whose party lost power in 2011 to arch rival AIADMK before being routed in last year's Lok Sabha polls, said those who make a visit to the aforesaid leaders should contribute a "hundred or two" "instead of flower garland or handloom cloth."
"Even that (money) should be presented in a cover while your address and the amount should be mentioned," so that the names could be published in media, he said adding this will rejoice the party workers.
Such funds will help in "sending home" the "authoritarian rule" in Tamil Nadu, he said in an apparent reference to the AIADMK government.
He said that party supporters throng outside his residence daily with requests for greeting a married couple or naming a child, and such persons should henceforth contribute towards the election funds.
"I am not used to asking (funds) from the rich. I only look upto you and you have been generous in your donations. I am once again asking you; I am confident you will give," he told the partymen.
Karunanidhi recalled that he had been aggressive in collecting funds for the party to fight the 1967 elections, with the party winning it and becoming the first non-Congress government of the state in independent India.
He had collected Rs 11 lakh and submitted that to DMK founder C N Annadurai, much to his joy, he said adding his son Stalin had reminded him to write such a letter to supporters seeking donations.
