The State will observe one day holiday and week-long mourning. PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi and other prominent leaders will travel to Chennai to pay their respects.
Chennai:
Army personnel covered the body of five-time chief minister with the national Tricolour. A copy of 'Murasoli' is placed besides Karunanidhi’s mortal remains inside the casket.
Former TN Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi passed away at the age of 94 after being under observation for the past 11 days. Kauvery hospital announced his demise in a press release yesterday.
The medical bulletin said that the former CM passed away at 6:10 pm on Tuesday.
Ambulance carrying DMK chief left from the hospital and reached the Gopalapuram residence. Later, it was taken to Kanimozhi's residence at CIT Colony where family members and public paid homage. Former Union Minister P Chidambaram paid his tributes here. Earlier, actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth as well as West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee arrived at Karunanidhi’s residence in Gopalapuram, to pay their last respects.
Tense moments prevailed when Police resorted to lathi-charge to control the crowd gathered outside Kanimozhi's residence.
Accompanied by supporters and his DMK working President MK Stalin, Karunanidhi's mortal remains left CIT Colony to arrive at Rajaji Hall where anxious cadre had started to gather.
Karunanidhi's son MK Alagiri and DMK leader Andimuthu Raja were also present at the spot. AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also arrived early on. Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth was among the first to pay respects at Rajaji Hall along with actor Dhanush.
Cine actors Radha Ravi, Sivakarthikeyan also paid their respects.
Slogans were raised at Rajaji hall, demanding Karunanidhi's burial next to Anna memorial at Marina beach.
" When Anna (former Tamil Nadu CM Annadurai) was there to safeguard & promote general Kazhagam, there were two brothers- Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) & MGR, and to see all three of them at one place would have been good", Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan said adding voice to DMK's demand for Karunanidhi's burial at Marina Beach.