Tamil News

M Karunanidhi Is Recovering Steadily, Says Son MK Stalin

By Adithya Narayan
M Karunanidhi at Director Ramanarayan Funeral

DMK president and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi’s health witnessed a slight decline due to age-related ailments, said a press release issued by Chennai’s Kauvery hospital on Thursday.

The statement went on to say that he had fever due to urinary tract infection and was being treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids.

Karunanidhi, who had undergone a tracheostomy procedure in 2016, was recently admitted to the hospital for a change of the tracheostomy pipe that enables a patience to receive oxygen. Currently, at his residence, Karunanidhi’s health is being supervised by a medical team round-the-clock “providing hospital-level care at home”, the bulletin said.

The DMK was gearing up for the celebrations of his 50th year as the party chief today. However, the doctors treating him have strongly advised against visitors.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

In an earlier letter to the party workers, Karunanidhi’s son and DMK working president M K Stalin had said, “Let us celebrate the golden jubilee of our leader assuming the office as part chief.”

Karunanidhi had taken over as the party chief on July 27, 1969 after the death of DMK founder-leader C N Annadurai.

Stalin in his letter hailed the five-time Chief Minister for the ‘tireless’ work he did in steering the party for half a century, while also listing the welfare initiatives launched by him. Talking about his age-related illness, Stalin said, “Time has given some rest.”

He also said that the party was confident that “time and medical science” would fulfill the party workers’ yearning to hear Karunanidhi’s ‘magnetic voice’.

Deputy Chief Minister and member of the AIADMK O Panneerselvam and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar were among the first to reach Karunanidhi’s residence. They met Stalin and other senior leaders of the DMK. Kamal Haasan, who was once asked by Karunanidhi to join politics, also paid a visit.

Panneerselvam and Jayakumar, both said that the DMK chief is doing well, after coming out of his residence, according to NDTV.
Expelled DMK leader M. K. Alagiri also came to visit his father at his Gopalapuram residence in Chennai.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him speedy recovery. Reports suggest that Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu will fly down to meet the Kalaignar.

Addressing media-persons outside the DMK chief’s residence, Stalin said that Karunanidhi’s condition is stabilising. He further said, “Thalaivar is getting the best medical care and treatment. We hope he will recover soon and thank everyone in his own words.”

Adithya Narayan is a Alum at Silverscreen India, and can be reached on Twitter at adithyanr66 or by email at adithya@silverscreen.in