DMK leader Stalin says 21 party workers have died of shock after Karunanidhi’s illness

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) appealed to the cadres not to take any extreme step in view of the DMK chief M Karunanidhi health.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday said 21 of its party workers have died unable to bear the “shock” of the illness and hospitalisation of party chief M Karunanidhi.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supporters outside the Kauvery hospital, where DMK chief M Karunanidhi is being treated, in Chennai. The DMK on Wednesday said 21 of its party workers have died unable to bear the “shock” of the illness and hospitalisation of party chief M Karunanidhi. (PTI Photo)

The party also appealed to the cadres not to take any extreme step in view of the 94-year-old former chief minister’s health.

“I am deeply depressed to learn that 21 party workers have died unable to bear the shock of party president Kalaignar’s illness (and hospitalisation),” DMK working president MK Stalin said.

The identity of the deceased has, however, not been disclosed by him.

As Karunanidhi continues to be under intensive care for the fifth consecutive day Wednesday at the Kauvery hospital in Chennai, the party top leader said he was grieved by such deaths and conveyed his condolences to the next of the kin of the affected families.

Quoting a statement from the hospital, Stalin said health condition of the party chief was “normalising,” and a team of doctors was constantly monitoring him.

Stalin, who is also Karunanidhi’s son and his successor in the DMK, asked cadres to realise that he cannot bear the loss of even a single party worker’s life.

The principle of “duty, dignity and discipline should be followed making Anna (party founder) and Kalaignar proud,” he said. “No one should take any extreme step that may result in loss of their lives.”

Meanwhile, Tamil actor Vijay visited the hospital and enquired about the health of the ailing leader.

“Although there has been resolution of the condition which led to his hospital admission, an extended period of hospitalisation will be necessary due to age-related overall decline in his general health, altered liver function and haematological parameters,” hospital’s executive director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj had said in a press release on Tuesday.

Karunanidhi was admitted to the hospital on July 28 following a dip in his blood pressure.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)