As DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s health status continued to remain “stable but critical,” he had a few high-profile visitors at the hospital on Friday.
Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda visited the former Chief Minister at Kauvery Hospital.
Later speaking to reporters, he hoped that Mr. Karunanidhi would make a quick recovery and live to be 100 years old.
“Mr. Karunanidhi is the senior-most leader from the southern region. He was responsible for the formation of coalition governments headed by [former Prime Minister] Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and me. I cannot forget that he supported me in becoming the Prime Minister,” Mr. Gowda said.
Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan with DMK leader M.K. Stalin at Kauvery Hospital.
“I was taken inside Mr. Karunanidhi’s room by Mr. Stalin and I saw him from a distance. Doctors warned of an infection so I was allowed into room but did not go near him,” Mr. Gowda said.
Later in the evening, Makkal Needhi Maiam founder and actor Kamal Haasan visited the hospital. Actor Vishal, and lyricist R. Vairamuthu also visited the hospital in the evening.
President’s schedule
President Ram Nath Kovind will be visiting Chennai on Sunday to enquire about the health of Mr. Karunanidhi.
Mr. Kovind is expected to reach Chennai on Sunday afternoon and will be in the city for a few hours.
“From August 4 to 7, President Kovind will be travelling to Telangana and Kerala for a series of public engagements. On August 5, he will touch down in Chennai for a short while and visit Mr. Karunanidhi in hospital,” the President’s press secretary Ashok Malik tweeted on Friday.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit the DMK leader on Saturday.
Mr. Naidu will arrive in the city at 10.50 a.m. and leave for Renigunta at 1.10 p.m. Mr. Karunanidhi has been hospitalised for a week now, after his blood pressure dropped last Friday night.
