DMK chief Karunanidhi hospitalised after BP drops, condition stable now

CHENNAI: The blood pressure of DMK president M Karunanidhi, who was admitted to Kauvery Hospital here around 1.30am on Saturday in a critical condition, has stabilised with medical management, said a bulletin issued by the hospital.


Latest updates on Karunanidhi's health

The bulletin said Karunanidhi continued to be treated by a panel of expert doctors.




The DMK chief’s health condition deteriorated past midnight, hours after M K Stalin told reporters that it had improved. A treating doctor told TOI that his condition was critical.



Stalin, sister Kanimozhi, Durai Murugan, A Raja and some other leaders, who had retired for the day after being in Gopalapuram, rushed back to the leader’s residence there. Karunanidhi’s personal physician and a team of doctors from Kauvery Hospital also got back to his bedside.

READ ALSO: DMK president M Karunanidhi’s health condition deteriorates, shifted to Kauvery hospital

A treating doctor told TOI that Karunanidhi’s blood pressure dropped around midnight. “He is critical. He has to be moved to hospital for advanced care. We are trying to stabilise him before that,” the doctor said around 1am.



Earlier in the day, get-well messages poured in from President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh and a host of other leaders.

As anxious DMK workers swarmed the Gopalapuram residence of the ailing leader in Chennai on Friday, Stalin, who was kept busy by a steady stream of visitors, told reporters in the evening that doctors treating his father had conveyed to him that the intensity of fever and infection had reduced. “There is a definite improvement in his health compared to Thursday,” Stalin said.

Later in the evening, he issued a brief statement, scotching rumours once again about Karunanidhi’s health. “I appeal to the public not to believe the fake news about ‘kalaignar’s’ health. It is improving as he is getting 24-hour treatment. Doctors have advised that visitors be restricted,” said Stalin.

He accused miscreants of deliberately spreading false information about Karunanidhi’s health. “I urge party workers and people not to believe in such fake information,” he said.

Earlier, the President tweeted on his official Twitter handle: “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 PM too called up Stalin and Kanimozhi to convey his concern. Modi, who is on a five-day Africa tour, 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.”

Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, who landed in Chennai from New Delhi in the afternoon, said, “He has an infection and he is being treated. A medical team is taking care of him at home and specialists are attending on him regularly.”

Friends, foes, religious leaders and anxious partymen made a beeline to Karunanidhi’s residence on Friday. Ailing leaders and Karunandhi’s contemporaries K Anbazhagan and Arcot Veerasamy visited him and so did DMK leaders S Duraimurugan, A Raja, Dayanidhi Maran.

While actor and MNM leader Kamal Haasan visited Karunanidhi at his residence on Thursday night, actor Rajnikanth called Stalin over phone on Friday evening to inquire about his health.

While Stalin, who was at his father’s residence since morning, received visitors, party headquarters staff appealed to party workers to disperse. But several workers gathered in Gopalapuram, raising slogans hailing Karunanidhi and Stalin.

Karunanidhi’s older son M K Alagiri arrived from Madurai and spoke briefly to reporters. He said his father’s health was improving. A group of Congress leaders including former TNCC chiefs E V K S Elangovan, K V Thangkabalu, Kushbhu and Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy visited the house. They were followed by Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, state president Tamilisai Soundararajan, national secretary H Raja and S Ve Shekher.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and CPI leaders D Pandian and R Nallakannu too called on Stalin. The Tamil film fraternity was represented by directors P Bharathiraja, K Bhagyaraj and actors Vikram, Anandraj and T Rajendar.


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