M Karunanidhi, 1st CM to hoist national flag

On August 15, 1974, Mr. Karunanidhi became the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to unfurl the national flag at the historic Fort St. George

Till 1973, the Governors, generally perceived as representatives of the Central government, unfurled the national flag in State capitals both on Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15).
At that time, he was intensifying his slogan of State autonomy to develop a federal structure in the light of  a report by the Rajamannar Committee on Centre-State relations (1969-1971).
In July, the Indira Gandhi government at the Centre conceded his demand and announced that Chief Ministers would hereafter hoist the flag on Independence Day while Governors would do it on Republic Day.
On August 15, 1974, M. Karunanidhi became the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to unfurl the national flag at the historic Fort St. George.
The DMK minister M. Karunanidhi was the CM for five times and is said to have never lost an election.
Fort St. George was the first fortress in India built by the British East India Company in 1640 and was founded in the year 1644.