CHENNAI: The sense of grief was palpable more than an hour before the official announcement. As DMK president M Karunanidhi’s daughter Selvi, accompanied by other family members, left of the hospital sobbing and inconsolable, it was the first indication that all was not well.
At 6.40pm, the hospital issued a medical bulletin declaring that the DMK chief was no more. It was the culmination of a 11-day turmoil when the family stood dignified and firmly bonded in its hour of grief.
Despite the deep rifts within the DMK’s first family, its members remained united in distress. DMK working president M K Stalin and his brother M K Alagiri, who have had a long-running feud, appeared to have struck a temporary truce. Half-sister Kanimozhi remained by Stalin’s side all through the hospitalization, greeting dignitaries and well-wishers, briefing them about Karunanidhi’s condition and accepting their get-well greetings.
All through the hospitalisation, family members took turns to stay in rooms on the fourth floor of the hospital, setting aside their personal differences. Stalin, Alagiri and their sister Selvi, besides Kanimozhi and her mother Rajathi Ammal were regularly briefed by doctors. Karunanidhi’s grandchildren and great grandchildren too were seen frequently visiting the hospital.
An ailing Dayalu Ammal was brought to the hospital by her youngest son M K Tamilarasu, who has chosen to remain out of the political limelight. Dayalu Ammal’s visit on Monday was an emotional moment for the family as she had been ailing for a few years now. Karunanidhi’s first wife Padmavathy’s M K Muthu, who is estranged from the family, also visited the hospital.
On Tuesday, as doctors seemed to give up hope, Stalin, accompanied by Alagiri, Kanimozhi and a few senior leaders met chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at his official Greenways Road residence in Chennai to brief him about Karunanidhi’s health.
Mortal remains of DMK chief M Karunanidhi reached his Gopalapuram residence, in Chennai.
