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Who is M K Stalin?
Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin (M K Stalin) is an Indian politician who is serving as the current and eighth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Since August 28, 2018, he has been the president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. He served as the 37th Mayor of Chennai from 1996 to 2002 and was also the first Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 2009 to 2011.
Early life and education
M K Stalin was born on March 1, 1953, in Chennai to a prominent Dravidian leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi and Dayalu Ammal. Stalin completed his schooling at Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School and his pre-university course at Vivekananda College. He has a degree in History from Presidency College, Chennai.
His early life was shaped by his family's involvement in politics. He was the third son of M. Karunanidhi, a prominent Dravidian leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Stalin was raised in a political environment, and his father's influence played a significant role in shaping his political career. From an early age, Stalin showed an interest in politics and was actively involved in his father's political campaigns.
Career
M K Stalin debuted into active politics in 1973 after completing his graduation from college. He formed a DMK Gopalapuram Youth Wing along with his friends. In the 1967 elections, the 14-year-old Stalin campaigned for his uncle Murasoli Maran. In 1973, Stalin was elected to the general committee of the DMK. He was named as the youth wing secretary of DMK, a position he held for two terms. He was behind the bars under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) for protesting against the Emergency in 1976.
Stalin has held several positions within his party DMK, including MLA, Mayor of Chennai, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and President of the DMK party. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 2021 after winning a landslide victory in the assembly elections. During his tenure as the Mayor of Chennai, Stalin initiated several development projects and worked to improve the city's infrastructure. He was instrumental in the construction of several flyovers and underpasses in the city, which helped to ease traffic congestion.
In 2001, Stalin was appointed as the Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu, a position he held for two decades. As the Deputy CM, he was responsible for several key portfolios, including rural development, local administration and water supply.
Stalin also initiated several welfare schemes for the poor and marginalized communities, including the provision of free bicycles to school students and the construction of houses for the homeless. Stalin's rise to power within the DMK party was gradual but steady. He was appointed as the treasurer of the party in 2008, a position he held until 2017. In the same year, Stalin was appointed as the working president of the DMK party, a position he held until his election as the party's President in 2018. In May 2021, Stalin was sworn in as the CM of Tamil Nadu after winning a landslide victory in the assembly elections.
His election as the Chief Minister marked a significant milestone in his political career, and he has since taken several measures to address the challenges facing the state. Stalin is known for his interest in sports and cultural activities and has improved the quality of education in corporation schools during his career. He has also been actively involved in promoting Tamil culture and language and has worked to protect the rights of the Tamil-speaking population in India.