List of Dravidian Chief Ministers in Chennai

C. N. Annadurai

C. N. Annadurai (Tamil: அண்ணாதுரை) (1909 to 1969), popularly called Anna (which means elder brother in Tamil language) was the first non Congress Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India after independence. He was also an accomplished writer and even before his entry into politics his penmanship and oratorial style had captivated many audiences.


V. R. Nedunchezhiyan

V.R. Nedunchezhiyan (Tamil: வி.ஆர்.நெடுஞ்செழியன்) (July 11, 1920 – January 12, 2000) was a former finance minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He was also the acting chief minister of Tamil Nadu in two tenures (3 February 1969 – 10 February 1969 and 24 December 1987 – 7 January 1988).

He was born at Thirukkannapuram near Pattukottai on July 11, 1920. He died of a heart attack at a private hospital on January 12, 2000. He is survived by his wife Visalakshi and a son. His grandson, Jeevan Neduncheziyan is a Tennis player in India.He was initiated into politics during his days at the Annamalai University. He joined the Dravidar Kazhagam party in 1944, but, along with C. N. Annadurai, moved over to form the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.


M. Karunanidhi

M. Karunanidhi (Tamil: மு.கருணாநிதி) or Karunanidhi Muthuvel generally referred to as M.K (Tamil: மு.க)and Dr. Kalaingar (கலைஞர்), is the present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is one of the founder members and the president of the DMK political party in the state of Tamil Nadu DMK from the death of C.N. Annadurai in 1969 till date. He has been the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times (1969-71, 1971-74, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-date). He holds the record of winning every election that he fought in his political career spanning over 60 years. He led the UPA in Tamil Nadu to win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections. A self professed Atheist and follower of E. V. Ramasami Naicker.


Bharath Ratna M. G. Ramachandran

" The Stamping "

MGR was always the first to personally offer relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones, he was the first donor during the war with China in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund.

" The MGR 3 letter phenomenon "

Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran Menon (Tamil: மருதூர் கோபால இராமச்சந்திரன்) (January 17, 1917–December 24,
1987), popularly known as MGR (Tamil: எம்.ஜி.ஆர்), or Puratchi Thalaivar (Tamil: Revolutionary Leader), was a leading actor in Tamil films and Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death.MGR was born in Hewaheta near Kandy, Sri Lanka, to Gopala Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama (Nairs traditionally are matrilineal, hence MGR shares his matrilineal family surname "Maruthur" ) . His family was originally from Vadavannur,Palakkad, Kerala, but his grandfather had migrated with his family to Sri Lanka.

After his father's death, he could not pursue his studies beyond the primary stage due to poverty and joined a drama troupe called Original Boys. Gaining considerable experience on stage, he entered the world of cinema, and gradually rose to enviable positions by persistent efforts and endurance. He became an actor, with a huge mass appeal. He was also a very good director and producer, and was also known to be an expert movie editor. MGR married Bargavi also known as Thangamani a villager who died early due to illness. He later married Sathanandavathi who also died soon due to Tuberculosis. His third wife was V.N.Janaki.

Making his film debut in 1935, in the film Sati Leelavathi, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director , MGR did not attain great popularity until he got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumari which was a super hit making him a top hero in Kollywood and one of the most successful in Indian Cinema history, the script for Rajakumari was written by M.Karunanidhi. He rose to stardom by playing characters that portrayed him as the saviour of the poor. His movies were the medium of communication for the Dravidian movement.

" The Acknowledgement - Indian Parliament Campus"

For the next twenty-five years he remained one of the biggest celebrity in Tamil cinema and one of the most famous and worshiped man in Tamil nadu. Movies like Madurai Veeran, a champion of the Tamil Devars. His star power did not diminish even after he was shot by fellow actor M. R. Radha (Mohan R. Radha), affecting his ability to speak clearly. Even then he undauntedly carried on only to give box-office hit after hits, later paving way for his entry into politics. He won the national award in the best actor category for the film Rickshakaran His Movie "Nadodi Mannan" (produced & directed by MGR and first released in 1956) released in 2006 ran house full shows in Tamil Nadu for 14 weeks. MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953 and he used to wear kathar and wear vibhuti on his forehead. In 1953 MGR was attracted by Anna and joined the DMK.He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK (Dravidian Progressive Federation). He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu. He became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. After the death of his mentor, Annadurai, MGR became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after Karunanidhi became the chief minister.

" The Legend among Legends "

In 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor M.R. Radha. The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. He wanted the financial details of the party to be publicised which enraged the leadership of DMK and in 1972,
MGR was expelled from the party. MGR then floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) which was later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977, and remained in office till his death in 1987. In 1979, Members of his party Satyavani Muthu and Aravinda Bala Pajanor, became the first dravidian and non-congress party from Tamil Nadu to become ministers in the Union Cabinet. It is to be noted that the AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive. He was the first film actor to be a Chief Minister in India. MGR placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. One of MGR's most successful policies was the introduction of the "Mid-day Meal Scheme" in the Government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu, which encouraged underprivileged children to attend schools.

" The Affection "

He was the one who have selected as a Chief Minister for continuously 3times.He founded the Tamil University, The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University and the Women's University in Tamil Nadu.In October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure and was rushed to the U.S. for treatment,and his niece M.G.C.Leelavathy donated kidney to him. Mass hysteria gripped Tamil Nadu and over 100 people attempted self-immolation. MGR died December 24, 1987 after his prolonged illness. This brought normal life to a grinding halt and causing untold miseryto millions. Around one million persons followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and lakhs of people had their heads tonsured.

" The Identity "

Some people in southern region of Tamil nadu still worship him as god. After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and his political protégé, J. Jayalalitha and later merged in 1988. He had an affair with Jayalalitha for a long time, which was very well utilized by Jayalalitha. In 1989 Dr.MGR Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was established in the erstwhile Ramavaram Gardens Residence as per his will dated 17 January 1986.

" The Charisma "

MGR was nominated for Padmashree award from the Government of India but MGR refused to accept as the wording was in Hindi in 1960 National Award for the Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran in 1972 Bharat Ratna was conferred by the Government of India posthumously. MGR was always the first to personally offer relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones, he was the first donor during the war with China in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund. He was the founder and editor of THAI weekly magazine and ANNA daily newspaper in Tamil. He was the owner of Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures which produced many of the films he acted in. He also founded the MGR Schools in Kodambakkam giving free education and food for the film workers children in 1953. He was the president of Nadigar Sangam - South India Film Artists Association for four terms.

He willed all his property for the welfare of the poor and hearing impaired people of Tamil Nadu.

" The Ultimate "

Janaki Ramachandran

Janaki Ramachandran, popularly known as V.N. Janaki (November 30,1923 – May 19, 1996), was an Indian Tamil actress and politician. She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist. She was a successful actress and starred in more than 25 movies including Velaikari, and Aiyiram Thalaivangiya Aboorva Chintamani. She starred opposite M. G. Ramachandran in many films. She married married M. G. Ramachandran. When M.G.Ramachandran died in 1987, she succeeded him as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Janaki Ramachandran became chief minister in January 1988 after her husband's death, but the government lasted only 24 days, the shortest in the history of
Tamil Nadu. Her ministry won the vote of confidence of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in January 1988 but the CentraL Government under the late Rajiv Gandhi used Article 356 of the Constitution of India to dismiss her government. Her party was defeated in the next elections held in 1989 and she quit politics.She died of a cardiac arrest on 19th May 1996.

Janaki Ramachandran gifted her property in Avvai Shanmugham Salai (Lloyds Road) to house the headquarters of the All India
Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party in 1986. She also gifted her property in Arcot Road to set up the MGR Memorial House in 1988. She was the founder chairman of The Satya Educational & Charitable Society managing many free educational institutions in chennai. She gifted property worth many million dollars for the establishment of educational and charitable institutions in Tamil nadu.


J. Jayalalithaa

Jayalalitha Jayaram (Tamil: ஜெயலலிதா ஜெயராம்) or J. Jayalalitha (as commonly referred), (born February 24, 1948), is a former Chief Minister and current leader of the opposition of the Government of Tamil Nadu, India. She is the incumbentgeneral secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a Dravidianparty in the state. She is popularly called Amma (mother) and Puratchi Thalaivi (Revolutionary Leader) by her followers. She was a popular film star in Tamil cinemabefore her entry into politics.

Banning of High interest private loans.
Banning lottery tickets to encourage savings.
Elimination of the much feared bandit Veerappan.
Introduction of Videoconferencing in Jails and Courts, thus eliminating the need to bring the accused to extend the remand every time.
All women police stations.
Rain water Harvesting Scheme introduced by J.Jayalaitha is a Grand Success.
Rural Women Self Help Programme is also benefitted lakhs of ladies in villages.
Free cycles to all school students.
Thottil Kuzhandai Thittam

initiated by J,Jayalalitha won her widespread accolades.


O. Panneerselvam

O. Paneerselvam (Tamil: ஒ. பன்னீர்செல்வம் ) (born 1951) is a former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Prior to his entry to politics, he owned a tea shop which he still owns. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in September 2001 after the appointment of then Chief Minister and AIADMK party chief J. Jayalalithaa wassquashed by the Supreme Court of India. In March 2002, he resigned as Chief Minister and J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and sentence and she won a by-election from Andipatti assembly constituency.

After his resignation he became the Public Works Department minister in the Jayalalithaagovernment. O. Paneerselvam was the leader of the AIADMK legislative party and the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly for about two weeks, after the party lost the assembly elections in May 2006.

He has been twice elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly from Periyakulam constituency. His confidants affectionately call him with his initials as 'OP'. He is the only CM after Kamaraj and Bakthavatsalam era who has not faced any corruption charges and was commended as Mr. Clean even when he was a Minister even by his square political opponents.

List of Non Dravidian Chief Ministers in Chennai

Madras Presidency

Madras Presidency, headquartered in Fort St. George, was a province of British India that comprised present day Tamil Nadu, the Malabar region of North Kerala, the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, and the Bellary, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts of Karnataka. It was established in 1653 to be the headquarters of the English settlements on the Coromandel Coast.


Madras State

Madras State, precursor to the present day state of Tamil Nadu, was created after Indian independence on 26 January 1950. It comprised present-day Tamil Nadu and parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The first legislature of the Madras State to be elected on the basis of universal suffrage was constituted on March 1, 1952, after the general elections held in January 1952.

The state was subsequently split up along linguistic lines in 1953, carving out Andhra State. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the States of Kerala, and Mysore were carved out of the Madras state. Under the implementation of the Andhra Pradesh and Madras Alteration of Boundaries Act, 1959, with effect from April 1, 1960, Tirutani taluk and Pallipattu sub-taluk of Chittoor district of Andra Pradesh were transferred to Madras State in exchange for territories from the Chingelput and Salem Districts.

A Subbarayalu Reddiar

A Subbarayalu Reddiar was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from December 17, 1920 to July 11, 1921. He belonged to Justice party. He took over as President, Cuddalore taluk Board in 1912. In 1917 he became the chair of South Arcot District Board. He comes from a landowning family and is a western educated lawyer. He later became the first Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, present-day state of Tamil Nadu.

Sir Panagal Ramarayaningar

Sir Panagal Ramarayaningar, KCIE (1866 – December 16, 1928), also known as the Raja of Panagal, was a prominent Zamindar of Kalahasti and the Chief Minister of Madras Province from July 11, 1921 to December 3, 1926.



Subbarayan

Subbarayan came from a large land owning family in Tamil Nadu, the Zamindar of Kumaramangalam, a zamindari near Thiruchengode, Salem District. He entered politics after becoming a barrister and taking a doctorate in law from Dublin.He was the Member of the Legislative Council from 1922 to 1936. He was also elected premier of the Madras Presidencey between 1927 and 1931. . He joined the Indian National Congress in 1933 and was Minister for Law and Education in the C. Rajagopalachari cabinet in 1937. He was arrested in the Quit India Movement.In 1947, he served as a Minister for Home and Police in the Ramaswamy Reddiar Cabinet in Madras and was a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.After the Indian independence, he served as the ambassador in Indonesia, a member of Rajya Sabha from 1954 and a member of Lok Sabha between 1957 and 1962. He served as Union Cabinet Minister for Transport and Communications in Nehru's Cabinet from 1959 to 1962. He was the Governor of Maharashtra at the time of his death....


P. Munuswamy Naidu

P. Munuswamy Naidu was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from October 27, 1930 to November 04, 1932..

Ramakrishna Ranga Rao

Ramakrishna Ranga Rao (b. February 20, 1901 - d. 1978) was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from November 05, 1932 to April 04, 1936 and August 24, 1936 to April 01, 1937.He was the 13th Raja of Bobbili.He showed firm determination right from his childhood. On the resignation of P. Munuswamy Naidu as Chief Minister of Madras Province, the Justice Party selected Ramakrishna to head the Ministry. The Governor called upon him to form the Ministry on November 5, 1932.

Rai Bahaddur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu

Rai Bahaddur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (b. 1875 - d. 1942) K.C.S.I., D.Litt., M.L.C.A South Indian, Reddi's main political base was Madras. He seems to have had a varied education, attending the Arts College in Rajahmundry , the Madras Christian College , the Madras Law College and the Madras University . Before joining the Bar in 1900, he was a Professor of Physics at the Arts College , Rajahmundry . After serving on various local and district boards between 1901 and 1919, he entered the national political arena in 1919 - 1920. In 1919, he led the non-Brahmin deputation to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, and a year later became a Member of the Imperial Legislative Council. Thereafter, from 1920 to 1926, he held official posts in the Madras Government and was a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly, and, before coming to South Africa , he was also a delegate to the League of Nations in Geneva in 1928.In 1929, he went to South Africa as an Agent of the Government of India. During his three years in South Africa , he does not seem to have created a lasting impression. In February 1950, the first reading of the TALT (Amendment) Bill was taken. Reddi attended the SAIC emergency conference on 5 th -6 th October 1930, and thereafter had six meetings with the SAIC committee where the issue was discussed. Following the proposals of the SAIC and his Government, he successfully negotiated the postponement of the Bill pending the Second Round Table Conference. This was his principal achievement in South Africa. Unlike the other Agents, he was not faced with the sort of internecine fights and splits within the Indian political movements, which plagued the other representatives.

Unlike Sastri, who was contacted by the Indian organisations, Reddi seems to have been quickly forgotten.He was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India, from April 1, 1937 to July 14, 1937. He was an acting Governor of Madras Presidency for the period of 18 Jun 1936 - 1 Oct 1936.

Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari

Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari (Tamil: சக்ரவர்த்தி ராஜகோபாலாச்சாரி) (December 10, 1878 - December 25, 1972), known as or Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, writer, statesman and a devout Hindu . He was the second Governor-General of independent India. Later he became the Chief Minister of Madras State, and was one of the first recipients of India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (in 1954).

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu (Telugu: టంగుటూరి ప్రకాశం పంతులు b. 23 August 1872 – d. 20 May 1957) was an Indian politician and independence activist and the first Chief Minister of the Indian province that was to become Andhra Pradesh. He was also known as Andhra Kesari (literally, the Lion of Andhra).

Omandur Ramasamy Reddiar

Omandur Ramasamy Reddiar was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from March 23, 1947 to April 6, 1949. He belonged to Viluppuram district in Tamil Nadu. He was nominated by K. Kamaraj for the CM position. When he showed signs of independence Kamaraj engineered his removal through a vote of no-confidence in the congress legislature party in 1949 and replaced him with P S Kumaraswamy Raja another ethnic telugu from southern Tamil Nadu (Rajapalayam). Ramaswamy Reddiar was a devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Poosapati S. Kumarswamy Raja

Poosapati S. Kumarswamy Raja (1898-1957) was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from April 6, 1949 to April 10, 1952. He was born in Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu. The lives and writings of Annie Besant and Satyamurthy had great influence on his mind and character in his formative years. It was in 1919 that he met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time and started following with great interest the events in Gandhi's life. Gandhi's epic struggle in South Africa, the founding of the Ashram in Ahmedabad and the Champaran struggle made a profound impression on him and the utter simplicity of Mahatma's life also evoked his unbounded admiration.

Bharath Ratna Kamaraj Kumarasami


The only genuine kingmaker in Indian politics. He felt that "one should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice."

Kamaraj Kumarasami, (Tamil : காமராஜ்) better known as K. Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975) was an Indian politician widely considered to be the only kingmaker in Indian politics, and known for his honesty, integrity and simplicity.

He was involved in the Indian independence movement and was a close ally of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. He was instrumental in bringing to power two Prime Ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and Indira Gandhi in 1966. He was affectionately known as the Gandhi of the South. In Tamil Nadu, his home state, he is still hailed for facilitating the spread of education to millions of the rural poor by introducing free education and free mid-day meals scheme in schools for the first time in the whole world during his chiefministership in 1957. He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976. The main airport in Chennai is today named Kamaraj airport in his honor. He was hailed as one of the greatest of politicians of all the free world by the then US vice-president Hubert Humphrey


Kamaraj was born 15 July, 1903, to Kumarasamy Nadar and Sivakami Ammal at Virudhunagar near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. His parents were from a trading family. His real name was Kamakshi Kumaraswamy, but was affectionately shortened to Raja by his mother, Sivakami Ammal. His father, Kumarswamy Nadar, was a coconut merchant. Kamaraj was enrolled at the local elementary school, the Enadhy Nayanar Vidyalaya, and later shifted to the high school Kshatriya Vidyalaya.

Unfortunately his father died within a year of Kamaraj's enrollment in school. Kamaraj's mother sold all jewelry except her earrings and deposited the money with a local merchant and cared for the entire family on the monthly interest that the money earned.

Kamaraj dropped out of school when he was in the sixth grade. When he entered mainstream public life he felt handicapped and realized the importance of a good education. He educated himself during his periods of imprisonment.

Kamaraj joined as an apprentice in his maternal uncle Karuppiah's cloth shop after dropping out of school. He would slip out from the shop to join processions and attend public meetings addressed by orators like Dr. Varadarajulu Naidu. His relatives frowned upon Kamaraj 's budding interest in politics. They sent him to Thiruvananthapuram to work at another uncle's timer shop.

At the age of 16, Kamaraj enrolled himself as full-time worker of the Congress. He invited speakers, organized meetings and collected funds for the party. He also participated in the march to Vedaranyam led by C. Rajagopalachari as part of the Salt Satyagraha of March 1930.

Kamaraj was arrested and sent to Alipore Jail in Calcutta for two years. He was 27 at the time of his arrest and was released in 1931 following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Kamaraj was implicated in the Virudhunagar bomb case two years later. Dr. Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf and proved the charges to be baseless. Kamaraj was arrested again in 1940 and sent to Vellore Central Prison while he was on his way to Wardha to get Gandhiji's approval for a list of satyagrahis.

While still in jail, Kamaraj was elected Chairman of the Municipal Council of Viruthunagar. Nine months later, upon his release, Kamaraj went straight to the Municipality and tendered his resignation from his post. He felt that "one should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice."

Kamaraj was arrested once more in 1942 and sentenced to three years in the Amaravathi prison for spreading propaganda material for the Quit India movement initiated by Gandhiji. While in prison, Kamaraj read books and continued his self-education.



Kamaraj's political guru and inspiration was S. Satyamurti, orator and parliamentarian. Satyamurti found in Kamaraj "an efficient, loyal, indefatigable worker and skillful organizer (p. 147, Pakshirajan)." Both developed a deep friendship and complemented each others' skills. In 1936, Satyamurti was elected President of the Provincial Congress Committee and he appointed Kamaraj the General Secretary. Four years later they swapped positions. The party base was strengthened under their leadership. So deep was Kamaraj's devotion to Satyamurti that when India gained independence, he first went to Satyamurti's house and hoisted the Indian flag there. On his election as Chief Ministerof Tamilnadu, Kamaraj went to Satyamurti's house and garlanded his photo and paid his respects to the leader's widow.

On April 13, 1954, K. Kamaraj reluctantly became the Chief Minister of Madras Province. To everyone's surprise, Kamaraj nominated C. Subramaniam and M. Bhakthavatsalam, who had contested his leadership, to the newly formed cabinet. Kamaraj removed the family vocation based Hereditary Education Policy introduced by Rajaji. He reopened the 6000 schools closed by previous government for financial reasons and also added 12000 more schools. The State made immense strides in education and trade. New schools were opened, so that poor rural students were to walk no more than 3 miles to their nearest school. Better facilities were added to existing ones. No village remained without a primary school and no panchayat without a high school. Kamaraj strove to eradicate illiteracy by introducing free and compulsory education up to the eleventh standard. He introduced the Mid-day Meal Scheme to provide at least one meal per day to the lakhs of poor school children (first time in the whole world). He introduced free school uniforms to weed out caste, creed and class distinctions among young minds.

Kamaraj remained Chief Minister for three consecutive terms Kamaraj noticed that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigor. He came up with a plan which was called the "Kamaraj Plan".

On October 2, 1963, he resigned from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Post. He proposed that all senior Congress leaders should resign from their posts and devote all their energy to the re-vitalization of the Congress.

In 1963 he suggested to Nehru that senior Congress leaders should leave ministerial posts to take up organisational work. This suggestion came to be known as the ‘Kamaraj Plan’, which was designed primarily to dispel from the minds of Congressmen the lure for power, creating in its place a dedicated attachment to the objectives and policies of the organisation. Kamaraj was elected President, Indian National Congress, on October 9, 1963.

Well impressed by the achievements and acumen of Kamraj, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru felt that his services were needed more at the national level. In a swift move he brought Kamaraj to Delhi as the President of the Indian National Congress. Nehru realised that if he had wide learning and vision, Kamaraj possessed enormous common sense and pragmatism.

Kamaraj gave a simple advice to his ministers, "Face the problem. Don't evade it. Find a solution, however small. People will be satisfied if you do something." Followed by him a number of Central and State ministers like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jagjivan Ram, Satyendra Narayan Sinha, Morarji Desai and S.K. Patil followed suit and resigned from their posts. In 1964, Kamaraj was elected 'Congress President' and he successfully navigated the party and the nation through the stormy years following Nehru's death. Kamaraj’s political maturity came in full view when Nehru died in 1964. How he settled the succession issue for the Prime Ministership was amply proved by his choice of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi in succession.

On October 2, 1975, Gandhi Jayanti day, Kamaraj awoke from his afternoon nap feeling uneasy. His housekeeper, Vairavan, rang up his physician. While he was on his way out, Kamaraj said, "Vairavan, put out the lights when you go out." K. Kamaraj died that day in his sleep. He was honored with the highest civilian honour, the 'Bharat Ratna' posthumously in 1976.