Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday presided over the marriages of 73 couples to mark the 73rd birthday of Chief Minister and his father M K Stalin.
The DMK Youth Wing Secretary observed that a significant majority of those wedded were self-chosen "love marriages".
"I asked one groom if it was a love marriage. He told me he had struggled for two and a half years to make it happen. It makes me immensely happy because mine was also a love marriage," he shared, drawing cheers from the audience.
But although love marriages require "great courage" and the ability to adapt to a partner's heart, he noting that the joy visible at the venue was a testament to the success of such unions.
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{{/usCountry}}At the ceremony, organised by the DMK's Chennai East District unit at Kalaivanar Arangam, Udhayanidhi also distributed ceremonial gift items to the newlyweds and presented two-wheelers to 76 women party workers.
He also noted that under the current DMK regime, consecration ceremonies (Kudamuzhukku) have been performed for 5,000 temples -- a feat he claimed was unprecedented.
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The Deputy CM highlighted that approximately ₹9,000 crore worth of temple lands have been recovered from encroachments during this tenure.
Udhayanidhi also commended the distribution of two-wheelers to women party cadres, acknowledging their grassroots contribution to the DMK.
The event marks the commencement of month-long celebrations planned by the party to celebrate the Chief Minister's 73rd birthday.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.