Security on Sunday was increased outside the DMK headquarters and Kauvery Hospital in Chennai, where former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi was admitted following a drop in blood pressure on Saturday. According to television reports, Chief Minister K Palaniswami has cancelled his events in Salem and have rushed back to the city. Family members of the DMK leaders have also rushed to the hospital. A medical bulletin on the DMK chief’s health is expected to be released shortly by the hospital.
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Earlier in the day, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu visited the ailing DMK leader. “Visited Kauveri Hospital and met former Chief Minister Thiru Kalaignar Karunanidhi. Met his family members and doctors and enquired about his health. Doctors said he is stable. Wish him a speedy recovery,” Naidu tweeted after his visit.
Besides Naidu, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, BJP leader Muralidhar Rao and the party’s Tamil Nadu unit party president Tamilisai Soundararajan also visited the hospital. “I came here on behalf of the TMC and Mamata Banerjee. I met M K Stalin and Kanimozhi and inquired about Karunanidhi’s health,” Derek said. Read less
DMK Patriarch and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi fell ill in October 2016 due to a drug-induced allergy and has been undergoing continuous treatment at his Gopalapuram residence. The leader has been admitted to the hospital multiple times over the past two years. He had undergone tracheostomy, a procedure to optimise breathing.
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There was a transient setback in the clinical condition of Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi, DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising. He continues to be closely monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors," Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director of the hospital, said in a press release.
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According to India Today Television, the leaves of the state police personnel have been cancelled.
According to reports, the former CM is experiencing trouble breathing normally.
According to India Today Television, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has cancelled his events in Salem and have rushed back to Chennai. Family members of Karunanidhi have also rushed to the hospital. Stalin, Alagiri and Kanimozhi also at present at the spot.
According to the television channel, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has cancelled his events in Salem and have rushed back to Chennai.
According to India Today Television, Kauvery Hospital is likely to release a medical bulletin on the health of the DMK patriarch soon.
According to the television channel, Karunanidhi's family have rushed to the hospital. Stalin, Alagiri and Kanimozhi also at present at the spot.
According to India Today Television, former finance minister P Chidambaram also visited the DMK supremo at the hospital on Sunday. Security has been increased in the area.
Odisha MP Baijayant Jay Panda also arrived at the hospital to visit the DMK supremo. "I came here to convey my best wishes for Karunanidhi Ji's speedy recovery. He has played a tremendous role in the social transformation and economic development of the nation. I also met MK Stalin, Kanimozhi and other DMK leaders," he later told reporters.
The first image of Karunanidhi in hospital has been released by his official Twitter handle. It was taken when V-P Venkaiah Naidu paid him a visit earlier today afternoon.
Venkaiah Naidu tweeted from his official handle regarding his visit to see Karunanidhi in the hospital and wished him a speedy recovery. Naidu also met Stalin and party chief's other family members.
According to a Puthiya Thalamurai tweet, MDMK Founder and Senior Tamil Nadu leader Vaiko visited Karunanidhi in Kauvery hospital. Vaiko, earlier has said that his party would work closely with DMK and that the DMK patriarch had 'nurtured' Vaiko into politics.
According to a ANI tweet, TMC leader Derek O'Brien visited Karunanidhi at Kauvery hospital. "I came here on behalf of TMC and Mamata Banerjee. I met MK Stalin and Kanimozhi and inquired about his health," he said.
Senior BJP leader La Ganesan said that Karunanidhi (health) is good and is hoping to recover soon.
Indian Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to inquire about Karunanidhi's health. Naidu was welcomed by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam and Governor Banwarilal Purohit, according to PuthiyaThalamurai tweet
BJP leader and Former Lok Sabha Shatrughan Sinha tweeted out for a speedy recovery of Karunanidhi
After reports emerged that Karunanidhi has been hospitalised, a huge crowd of DMK supporters have camped outside the Kauvery hospital praying for his health and shouting party slogans. There is increased deployment of police at the hospital as well. Read full report here.
Earlier in the day, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wished a speedy recovery to the former CM. "CM Pinarayi Vijayan wished a quick recovery to former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK leader M Karunanidhi who is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Chennai," the chief minister's office tweeted.
In a fresh medical bulletin released later in the day, the hospital said, "DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Kalignar Dr M Karunanidhi's health condition continues to remain stable with ongoing active medical support. He is continuously being monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors in the Intensive Care Unit."
For the past two years, the DMK president has not been making any public appearance owing to his ill health, but he still holds the top post in the Dravidian party.
A few days ago, the DMK chief underwent a procedure to change his tracheostomy tube to help him in breathing. Karunanidhi, who is addressed as 'Kalaignar' (artiste) by his supporters, followers and some politicians, entered his 50th year as party chief on Friday.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran visits Karunanidhi at the hospital on Saturday. (PTI)
DMK supporters raise a placard outside the hospital where Karunanidhi is being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection, in Chennai, on Saturday. (PTI)
DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan with senior leaders visit DMK chief M Karunanidhi at the hospital on Saturday. (PTI)
After receiving the news about Karunanidhi being admitted to hospital, party cadre from various parts of the state poured in there chanting "long live Thalaivar" (leader).
State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar too wished the DMK supremo a speedy recovery. Actors including Prabhu and Nasser also paid a visit to the hospital.
Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha also wished the former Tamil Nadu a speedy recovery. "Wish speedy recovery to Sri Karunanidhi. Fondly recall my meeting with him recently," he tweeted.
Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses the media after a meet with DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Saturday. (PTI)
Chief Minister K Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that the Tamil Nadu government is ready to provide all possible medical assistance to the ailing DMK patriarch.
Editor of tamil weekly Thuglaq told ANI,
Former Union IT Minister A Raja addresses media outside the hospital (PTI Photo)
DMK supporters with portraits of party president M Karunanidhi, wait outside a private hospital, where DMK Chief was admitted due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, in Chennai, on Saturday. Karunanidhi was admitted to a hospital from his Gopalapuram residence. (PTI photo)
Kanmozhi says, "He is better. His blood pressure has stabilised: DMK leader Kanimozhi on DMK President M Karunanidhi's health condition."
The Dravidian leader has not been seen in public for several months due to health issues. He had undergone a tracheotomy procedure in December 2016 to improve his breathing. His son Stalin is serving as the working president of the DMK. His daughter Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP, also looks after party affairs. Karunanidhi has been granted a leave of absence from the Tamil Nadu House due to his health.
DMK supporters continue to gather outside Kauvery Hospital, where DMK President M Karunanidhi is admitted. Karunanidhi has been not keeping well since October 2016 and days ago he had underwent a procedure to change his tracheostomy tube, provided to help breathing. On Wednesday, Stalin had said that Karunanidhi was suffering from fever and doctors were providing medication as he assured there was nothing to worry about the 94-year-old leader’s health.
Since his hospitalisation in 2016, Karunanidhi has been away from the public eye. He has made only a handful of appearances since, including at an exhibition last October to showcase the 75-year journey of DMK's mouthpiece ‘Murasoli’ — which he founded in 1942. Each time the public gets a glimpse of Karunanidhi, he is dressed in complete white with his trademark yellow shawl. He has been bound to a wheelchair since 2010.
During wee hours of Saturday, Karunanidhi was shifted to Kauvery hospital. Apart from the senior leaders' family, a big crowd thronged to the hospital to support and pray for the DMK chief's recovery.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, his son and party working president M K Stalin described him as an "unshakeable force" who has converted challenges into achievements in the state.
Karunanidhi, 94, has spent half a decade in politics. Popularly known as 'Kalaignar' (artiste), he entered his 50th year as president of the DMK on Friday, a rare milestone in India's political history. He took over reins of the party on July 27, 1969, after the death of DMK founder leader C N Annadurai. The veteran leader, who was elected as the third chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 1969, has held the post five times. He has been an elected to the Legislative Assembly 13 times and is currently the sitting MLA from Tiruvarur.
M Karunanidhi was admitted in Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet at around 1 am this morning after his blood pressure dropped at around 11.30 pm. He was admitted in ICU and is being treated by a panel of doctors. His condition is stable. The latest bulletin released by the hospital stated: "DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi has been admitted on 28th July at 1:30AM in the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital following drop in Blood Pressure. His Blood Pressure has been stabilized with medical management and he continues to be monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors.
DMK leader A Raja says Karunanidhi's condition is stable. He was admitted after his blood pressure dropped. He is being treated in a critical care unit at Kauvery Hospital. A press release from the hospital reads: "Karunanidhi has been admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital following drop in blood pressure. His BP has been stabilized with medical management and he continued to be monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors."
Here are some visuals from outside Kauvery Hospital, taken by our reporter Arun Janardhanan. Crowds have gathered outside the hospital where the DMK chief has been admitted.
(Express Photo)
Slogans of 'Long Live Karunanidhi' can be heard outside Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet. There's heightened security in the area as crowds have gathered to wish the DMK chief. Duraimurugan, A Raja are other DMK leaders seen at the hospital. Stay tuned, we'll bring you the latest news on Karunanidhi's health.
In case you're just joining us, Karunanidhi's health deteriorated at 11.30 pm last night. He has been shifted from his Gopalapuram residence where he was being treated to Kauvery Hospital. His children and DMK leaders M K Alagizhi, M K Kanimozhi and M K Stalin are at the hospital along with him. There are large crowds gathered outside the hospital, along with heavy police deployment. There is no official word yet on how the health of the DMK patriarch.
Here's a video of Karunanidhi being shifted in an ambulance. Karunanidhi's children M K Alagizhi, Kanimozhi and M K Stalin have accompanied him to the hospital.