Stalin seeks to allay the fears of supporters waiting to hear news about Karunanidhi’s health Anxious cadre of the DMK converged outside party president M. Karunanidhi’s house in Gopalapuram on Friday, praying for his speedy recovery. The crowd, which comprised well-wishers and supporters of the veteran Dravidian leader, ranged from senior citizens to middle-aged men and women, youth and children. Their wait was punctuated by occasional raising of slogans, wishing Mr. Karunanidhi a long life. With the party cadre worried about Mr. Karunanidhi’s health, many were heard discussing the future of the DMK. The mood was predictably sombre, oscillating between disillusionment and hope that Mr. Karunanidhi, who has outlived many of his contemporaries and rivals, will successfully battle illness this time too. In the afternoon, Mr. Karunanidhi’s son and party working president M.K Stalin told journalists waiting outside his residence that the veteran DMK leader was doing better, much to the relief of party cadre. Later, DMK deputy leader in the Assembly Duraimurugan sought to quell all ‘rumours’ about Mr. Karunanidhi’s health, pointing out that “he had a grin on his face”, and appealed to the party cadre to go home. Most of them were hopeful that the DMK chief will overcome the health setback and live up to 100 years. The police made elaborate security arrangements in and around the Gopalapuram residence. Personnel from the Tamil Nadu Special Police and the Chennai City police have been on duty around Mr. Karunanidhi’s house since Friday morning. As there was huge congestion of vehicles on the street leading to his house, the police barred vehicles from entering the street. Iron barricades were installed at six vantage points and men in uniform were deployed to regulate traffic and control the crowd. Late at night, the crowd began to disperse after Mr. Karunanidhi’s daughter and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi left. TNCC leader Su. Thirunavukkarasar was among the leaders who visited Mr. Karunanidhi’s house in the evening.<doc-sep>Ailing DMK president M Karunanidhi, who was shifted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai early Saturday after his blood pressure dropped, is stable, his daughter said. Karunanidhi, 94, who had been receiving medical treatment at home past few days, was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital at 1:30 am. The hospital in a statement said he was brought there after his blood pressure had dropped. Later MK Stalin and Kanimozhi visited their father in the hospital. “He is better. His blood pressure has stabilised”, Kanimozhi said DMK leader A Raja also said the DMK leader’s blood pressure was normal and “there is nothing to worry.” A team of doctors had reached Karunanidhi’s home at about midnight and reviewed his condition. They then decided to shift him to the hospital after discussions with the veteran politician’s family members. Several senior DMK leaders, including working president MK Stalin and his estranged elder brother MK Alagiri were at the hospital. Other frontline leaders such as Duraimurugan, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and former Union minister A Raja were also there. DMK President Karunanidhi has been admitted to the ICU of the hospital following a drop in blood pressure. His BP has been stabilised with medical management. He is being monitored and treated by a panel of expert doctors: Kauvery Hospital, Chennai #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/qsLW12C0c3 — ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2018 On Friday, Stalin said there was a good improvement in his father’s health as the infection had abated considerably. A statement from Kauvery Hospital on Thursday said Karunanidhi, a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, was suffering from urinary tract infection and was being treated at his home. “He is currently being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. He is being monitored and treated round the clock by a team of medical and nursing professionals, who are providing hospital-level care at his home,” the hospital’s executive director Aravindan Selvaraj had said. Karunanidhi, who has not been keeping well since October 2016, was recently admitted to Kauvery Hospital for change of the tracheostomy tube that helps him breathe. Party cadres had poured in near the hospital complex after receiving the news about Karunanidhi being admitted there. They were chanting “long live Thalaivar” (leader). 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. Karunanidhi, who is addressed as ‘Kalaignar’ (artiste) by his supporters, followers and some politicians, entered his 50th year as party chief on Friday. (With PTI inputs)<doc-sep>Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with Karunanidhi's son M.K. Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi and enquires about the veteran leader's health. DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s health suffered a slight setback on Thursday and round-the-clock treatment is being given to him at his residence in Gopalapuram, Chennai, by a team of doctors and nursing professionals from the city's Kauvery Hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he spoke with Mr. Karunanidhi's son M.K. Stalin, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and daughter Kanimozhi and enquired about the veteran leader's health. "I pray for his quick recovery and good health," wrote Mr. Modi on Twitter and added that he had offered any assistance required. Panneerselvam, Ministers visit Karunanidhi's house Meanwhile, in a rare political gesture, around 9.45 p.m. on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, accompanied by three senior Cabinet colleagues — D. Jayakumar, P. Thangamani and S.P. Velumani — visited Mr. Karunanidhi’s house and briefly inquired with Stalin about Mr. Karunanidh's his health condition. Later, Mr. Panneerselvam said the DMK leader was in good health. Fisheries Minister Jayakumar said they had come to the DMK president’s house out of political decency. “He [Mr. Karunanidhi] is fine. He will recover. When Amma (Jayalalithaa) was hospitalised, they [Mr. Stalin and other DMK leaders] had visited her,” he added. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Municipal Administration Minister S.P. Velumani Electricity Minister P. Thangamani and Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar leave after inquiring with DMK working president M.K. Stalin about his father and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s health at Gopalapuram in Chennai on July 26, 2018. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu On Thursday evening, Kauvery Hospital said in a press release that there was a “slight decline” in the health of Mr. Karunanidhi due to age-related ailments. ''He is currently being treated for fever due to a urinary tract infection and is being administered antibiotics.'' Actor-politician Kamal Haasan leaves DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s residence in Chennai on July 26, 2018 after enquiring about the latter's health. | Photo Credit: R. Ragu Hospital executive director Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj said in the release that doctors and nursing professionals were providing hospital-level care to Mr. Karunanidhi at his home. Given his condition, doctors attending on him have recommended restriction on visitors.<doc-sep>
DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was admitted to the Kauvery Hospital in a critical condition around 1.30 a.m. on Saturday after his blood pressure began to fall. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance past Friday midnight from his Gopalapuram residence. Hundreds of anxious party cadres converged outside the hospital raising slogans for his well being. Many of them were also in tears praying for his recovery. The nonagenarian leader was suffering from fever and urinary tract infection for the past few days and was being treated round-the-clock by a team of hospitals and nursing professionals at his house. Around midnight Mr. Karunanidh’s son and DMK working president M.K. Stalin, daughter Kanimozhi and second son M.K. Alagiri rushed to his house upon learning that his health had deteriorated. Several senior DMK functionaries and Mr. Karunanidhi’s long-time personal physician Dr. Gopal also arrived at Gopalapuram and made arrangements for an ambulance to take him to the hospital. Earlier on Friday, a host of national and regional political leaders including President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday enquired about his health from his family members. Mr. Modi, who was in Johannesburg for the BRICS summit, spoke to Mr. Stalin and Kanimozhi and extended all necessary help. As large numbers of party cadres and well wishers converged in Gopalapuram outside Mr. Karunanidhi’s house anxious to know about his condition, Mr. Stalin told reporters in the afternoon that the DMK leader’s health had improved. In the evening, he issued a statement appealing to people not to believe in rumours and assured that his father’s condition was improving.