Karuna critical, leaders wish him early recovery

Muthuvel Karunanidhi, 94, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who entered the fiftieth year of his presidency as the DMK president on Friday, continues to be in a critical condition at his residence in Chennai’s Gopalapuram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other leaders, wished Karunanidhi a quick recovery on Friday. Modi enquired about his health condition and also offered to help.

Karunanidhi’s health suffered a setback on Thursday night because of “urinary tract infection” and a team of doctors rushed to to attend him.

MK Stalin, Karunanidhi’s second son and the working president of the DMK, told reporters on Friday afternoon that there has been slight improvement in the condition of his father and a team of four doctors assisted by paramedical and nurses are attending to the Dravidian leader.

A medical bulletin issued by  Kauvery Hospital management said there was a “slight decline” in Karunanidhi’s health and he is being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. Dr Aravindan Selvaraj of the hospital said the former Chief Minister has been  provided hospital level care at home and strongly advised the family to restrict visitors. A team of four doctors and nurses attending him round the clock basis.

In a rare gesture, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and three senior ministers of the council of ministers of the Tamil Nadu Government rushed to Gopalapuram residence of the DMK president and had a meeting with Stalin. Later speaking to reporters, Panneerselvam said they came to enquire about the health condition of Karunanidhi and he was getting well.

Leaders of all political parties in Tamil Nadu rushed to Karunanidhi’s house to express their solidarity with the family members. “We are all praying to God Almighty for the health and well being of DMK chief Karunanidhi,” said Tamilissai Sounderarajan, the State BJP chief.

M K Alagiri, Karunanidhi’s Madurai based elder son, who is also a former union minister, rushed to Chennai with his wife and children on hearing the news about his father’s health condition. Karunanidhi has been ailing since mid-2016 and has curtailed his public engagements because of indifferent health.

President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi rang up Stalin and his sister Kanimozhi and enquired about Karunanidhi’s health on Friday morning. “Spoke to Thiru Karunanidhi’s family members on the phone and inquired about his health. Wishing the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a veteran of our public life, a quick recovery” the President tweeted.

The Prime Minister tweeted, “Spoke to Thiru @mkstalin and Kanimozhi Ji. Enquired about the health of Kalaignar Karunanidhi Ji and offered any assistance required. I pray for his quick recovery and good health.”

It was on July 27, 1969, Karunanidhi was elected as the president of the DMK following the death of C N Annadurai.

On Friday, Karunanidhi completed 49 years of uninterrupted service as the party president. The whole DMK fraternity is waiting with bated breath to see him completing 50 years as the president of the party and to equal the record of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro who was the president of Cuban Communist Party for 50 years, a world record. If Karunanidhi continues as the DMK president for another year, he would emerge as the longest serving head of a political party in the world.

The Gopalapuram residence has been brought under heavy police security as hundreds of party workers from all over Tamil Nadu are gathering there to pray for the health of their supremo. It was announced late Friday evening by the DMK office that vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu is coming to Chennaion Saturday to call on Karunanidhi.