Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Member of Parliament Kanimozhi on 15 August 2025 paid tribute to her father and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, recalling his decades-long campaign to secure the right of elected State Chief Ministers to hoist the National Flag on Independence Day. The tribute came as India marked its 80th Independence Day with ceremonies across the country.

The Federalism Battle Karunanidhi Fought

Kanimozhi noted that the right to hoist the Tricolour at Independence Day functions in State capitals was historically reserved for Governors — constitutional appointees of the Centre — rather than elected Chief Ministers. Karunanidhi, widely known by his honorific Kalaignar, led a sustained campaign to change this, arguing that the exclusion undermined the dignity of elected State governments and the federal compact enshrined in the Constitution.

His campaign ultimately helped establish the convention of elected Chief Ministers unfurling the National Flag in their respective States. Kanimozhi said the struggle conveyed a broader message: that the freedom won through independence belonged to all sections of society, not merely to those appointed by the Centre.

Kanimozhi's Independence Day Message

In a post on social media platform X, Kanimozhi extended greetings to citizens on the occasion and said India's freedom had been won through countless sacrifices and prolonged struggles. 'Let us honour the sacrifices of those who fought for the liberation of our motherland. Let us uphold the values of federalism that will make that freedom complete,' she wrote.

She framed Karunanidhi's flag-hoisting campaign not as a symbolic dispute but as a principled stand for the federal principles the Constitution adopted — a reading that resonates in ongoing Centre-State tensions over gubernatorial powers.

Tamil Nadu's Independence Day Ceremony

In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay led the State's Independence Day celebrations at Fort St. George. This was his first Independence Day ceremony since the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government assumed office in the State.

CM Vijay arrived at the Secretariat amid elaborate security arrangements and received a ceremonial guard of honour. He inspected the police parade from an open vehicle before proceeding to the ramparts of Fort St. George, where he unfurled the National Flag as the National Anthem was played. Ministers, senior government officials, police officers, elected representatives, and dignitaries attended the event.

What CM Vijay Said

In his Independence Day address, CM Vijay paid tribute to freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation. He reiterated his government's commitment to defending Tamil Nadu's interests and State rights, and pledged transparent, honest, and corruption-free governance. The Chief Minister also emphasised social justice, equality, and the need to remove barriers based on caste, religion, language, and race.

Nationally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the National Flag at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi and addressed the nation, as India celebrated its 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and events across the country. The occasion, this year, carried an added resonance in Tamil Nadu — where the right to hoist that very flag was once a political battle in itself.