M Karunanidhi's blood pressure stabilises but DMK chief to stay in ICU, says daughter Kanimozhi

DMK president M Karunanidhi, who was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday after suffering from low blood pressure is recovering. The latest press release from the Kaveri hospital said that Karunanidhi’s condition remains stable and he is receiving treatment from a panel of doctors at the intensive care unit of the hospital. Karunanidhi’s daughter and DMK leader Kanimozhi told reporters on Saturday that the DMK president’s health condition was improving. “His blood pressure is stable now,” she said, according to  ANI.  [caption id=“attachment_4839191” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of DMK chief M Karunanidhi. PTI[/caption] Karunanidhi, 94, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Kauvery Hospital at 1.30 am on Saturday. The hospital in a statement said that he was brought there after his blood pressure had dropped. “His blood pressure has been stabilised with medical management and he continues to be monitored and treated by the panel of experts,” the hospital said. 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, Kanimozhi and former Union minister A Raja were also there. 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)”. Some of them were holding Karunanidhi’s photos as they waited outside the hospital. The DMK leaders had visited Karunanidhi at his home in Gopalapuram area before he was taken to the hospital. Among the visitors was Alagiri, who was expelled from the party by the DMK chief in January 2014 after a prolonged struggle for power with Stalin. Hours before Karunanidhi was moved to the hospital, Stalin had said the former Tamil Nadu chief minister’s health was improving. On Wednesday, he had assured people that there was nothing to worry about his father’s health. Hundreds of DMK supporters gathered at Kauvery Hospital and waited for more news on Karunanidhi’s health.

Security was tightened at the former Tamil Nadu chief minister’s residence as DMK cadres kept pouring in there as well. Karunanidhi’s estranged son and former DMK leader MK Alagiri, who was expelled from the party by the DMK chief in January 2014 after a prolonged struggle for power with his younger brother Stalin, also visited his father’s house and the hospital. Governor Banwarilal Purohit visited the hospital and enquired about the health of Karunanidhi with the hospital authorities, Stalin and other members of the DMK chief’s family. Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that the Tamil Nadu government was ready to provide all possible medical assistance to ailing Karunanidhi, who was a five-time chief minister, if it was approached. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “My prayers for Sh Karunanidhi’s fast recovery.” State Health Minister C Vijayabaskar too wished the DMK supremo a speedy recovery. Later in the day, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mukul Wasnik visited the family members of Karunanidhi and spoke to doctors at the hospital. “Karunanidhiji is totally stable… he is improving… we are praying for his speedy recovery,” Azad told reporters, adding the Congress high command had directed them to enquire about the health of nonagenarian leader. State Congress leaders including EVKS Elangovan, TNCC chief S Thirunavukkarasar, were present at the hospital. Actors including Prabhu and Nasser also paid a visit to the hospital. 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 has not been keeping well since October 2016. A few days ago, he 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. With inputs from PTI