DMK chief M Karunanidhi turns 95

The veteran politician's Gopalapuram residence in Chennai was decked with flowers as scores of party workers started gathering there since last night. They also cut a cake to mark the occasion.

Sweets were distributed among the DMK workers and a host of events, including blood donation camps, were organised by the party at various places in Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi's son, DMK working president M K Stalin, and former Union minister A Raja were among those who met him earlier in the day.

The nonagenarian leader had undergone a tracheostomy last year to improve his breathing. A smiling Karunanidhi made a brief appearance at the balcony of his house and waved at the crowd. The DMK supporters, who had gathered outside his residence, raised slogans, hailing him. Besides Modi, Deve Gowda and Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also greeted the Dravidian leader on the occasion.

Modi, who had called on Karunanidhi in November last year at his residence here, extended his greetings on Twitter and shared an image of his meeting with the DMK veteran. "Best wishes to Kalaignar M Karunanidhi Ji on his birthday. A prolific writer, poet, thinker and orator, Karunanidhi Ji is one of India's senior most political leaders. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life@kalaignar89," he tweeted. Deve Gowda, in a letter to the DMK president from Bengaluru, said he prayed that the almighty blessed Karunanidhi with good health and a long life "to continue serving the nation.