DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s health suffered a setback on Sunday evening but with medical support his vital signs became normal by night. He continues to receive medical assistance at Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet, Chennai, on Monday.
Here are the live updates:
Update on Monday, July 31, 2018
Thin crowd near hospital after midnight
Crowd has decreased. Only few party supporters remain near the hospital, raising slogans hailing the DMK chief.
DMK chief continues to be under medical supervision: Stalin
DMK working president and M. Karunanidhi's son M.K. Stalin left the hospital, followed by VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan around 9.15 pm. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Stalin said the DMK chief continues to be under medical supervision. "His (Karunanidhi's) health status is as per the bulletin which was released yesterday", Mr. Stalin said.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the DMK chief, Mr. Thirumavalavan said that Mr. Karunanidhi's health condition is stable and he was not on any machine support. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko arrived at the Kauvery hospital around 9 pm.. Mr. Vaiko had briefly visited the DMK chief on Sunday. Meanwhile, food packets were distributed by party members to the people who assembled outside Kauvery Hospital.
T.R. Baalu, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Durai Murugan leave Kauvery hospital.
Sri Lankan Ministers visit Hospital
Sri Lanka's Arumuga Thondaiman and Senthil Thondaiman visited the Kauvery Hospital where DMK president M. Karunanidhi was admitted. They handed a letter from Sri Lanka's President Sirisena to DMK working president M.K. Stalin. In the letter, Mr. Sirisena has enquired about the health condition of Mr. Karunanidhi and wishes him a speedy recovery.
Cadres throng Kauvery Hospital
Large number of DMK cadres are thronging to Kauvery hospital where Mr. Karunanidhi is under treatment in spite of repeated appeals by party leaders advising not to gather. NCP chief Sharad Pawar visits the ailing leader.
Police appeall to the public and mediapersons not to block the free passage of patients and their relatives to the hospital. Since some mediapersons stood atop the wall surrounding the hospital, police advise them not to take the risk.
Police make an elaborate security arrangements and effect minor diversion in traffic. Members of the DMK's Thondar Ani Padai assist the police in regulating the crowd.
DMK working president M.K. Stalin and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi are in the hospital.
Actors Sivakumar, son Suriya visit hospital
Outside the Kauvery Hospital
Scenes outside the hospital, where cadres are waiting for news of the DMK leader’s health.
Crowd swells
This octogenarian, Chellamma, has come to Chennai from Ambasamudram to catch a glimpse of her leader.
DMK workers continue to swarm the hospital premises, where Mr. Karunanidhi is being treated at the ICU for the third consecutive day, despite police asking them to avoid crowding the area and party leader M.K. Stalin appealing for calm and cooperation with police in maintaining law and order.
Earlier in the day, State Ministers, including Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam, accompanied the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to the hospital.
Karunanidhi is better, says CM Edappadi Palaniswami
The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam arrive at the hospital to enquire about Mr. Karunanidhi's health.
"I have just met him in Kauvery Hospital. He is better and recovering well," says Mr. Palaniswami.
The Chief Minister, who was on a official visit to Salem, returned to Chennai late on Sunday night.
Two DMK members die of heart attack
R. Amsakumar, a 65-year-old DMK member from Kullakkapalayam near Pollachi, dies of heart attack on Saturday evening, allegedly due to stress caused by Mr. Karunanidhi’s health condition. In Udhagamandalam, a 55-year-old person dies of a heart attack, allegedly after he heard rumours that the DMK leader’s health was deteriorating.
A souvenir seller, his cherished memories and a journey that spans four decades
M. Abdul Kafoor has seen Thalaivar Kalaignar in almost every public meeting, from a distance, for four decades now. The frail 62-year-old man, who sells party souvenirs, is usually seen at meeting venues long before DMK president M. Karunanidhi and other frontline leaders arrive, and leaves much later than them.
Tiruvarur prays for its representative
Reports of a marginal improvement in the health of Mr. Karunanidhi bring a measure of relief to his Tiruvarur admirers, who voted for him as their representative in the Assembly polls in 2016. People from different faiths continue to seek divine intervention for his speedy recovery.
When Alwarpet resounded with prayers for Kalaignar
Prayers, some silent, some whispered and some loud, were rendered by the cadre that waited outside the Kauvery Hospital, as the state of Mr. Karunanidhi’s health waxed and waned on Sunday.
Since the morning, DMK workers thronged the hospital for updates on the health of their leader as a flurry of VIP visitors, including PMK founder S. Ramadoss, former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Odisha MP Baijayant Panda trooped in to enquire about his condition.
Updates as on Sunday, July 29, 2018
On Sunday evening when his health deteriorated, frenetic activity was witnessed at the hospital, with many of his family members, including wife Rajathi Ammal and children, coming to the hospital one after the other. Several senior DMK leaders, including general secretary K. Anbazhagan, also arrived there. The police stepped up security with additional reinforcements being rushed to the hospital as thousands of anxious cadres began gathering at the gates.
Read our live blog from Sunday .