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Don’t believe rumours on Karunanidhi: DMK leader A Raja tells crowd outside hospital, appeals for calm
Karunanidhi’s family members – son and political heir MK Stalin, his wife Dayalu Amal, and A Raja left the hospital after the medical update
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DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who is being treated at a hospital in Chennai, is showing signs of improvement after a small setback, senior party leader A Raja told the huge crowd standing outside the hospital in rain, praying for the recovery of their Kalaignar.
“Don’t belive in rumours… no need to worry, Kalaignar is doing well. It’s true he got small setback but now his health is improving,” said Raja, standing atop a police barricade put up to control the hundreds outside the Kauvery hospital where the 94-year-old veteran politician is being treated.
A Raja, who had to step out twice to reassure the swelling crowd on Karunanidhi’s health, appealed to the DMK cadre to maintain calm who were reportedly trying to break through the barricades. Huge security has been deployed outside the hospital to control the overflowing crowd.
In a late night press release, Kauvery Hospital said that there was a “transient setback in the clinical condition of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi. With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising”.
However, he continues to be “closely monitored”, the press note added. Karunanidhi was admitted to the hospital late on Friday following a dip in his blood pressure. He is being treated for a urinary tract infection
Karunanidhi’s son and political heir MK Stalin and Raja were at the hospital all through the evening and headed home soon the health update.
“We’re headling home, he is improving after unexpected setback,” said Stalin, appealing the DMK cadre to “not obstruct police and disturb public”.
Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi, however, is still at the hospital.
Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami, who was headed to Chennai after cutting short his Salem tour was advised to postpone his visit by the police, sources told Hindustan Times.
In a photograph released by DMK this morning, Karunanidhi was seen for the first time since his hospitalisation. He was visited by vice president Venkaiah Naidu and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday. In the photograph with Mr Naidu, Karunanidhi appears to be sleeping.
For more than a year, Karunanidhi – a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu – has not made any public appearance except occasional visits to his party office and waving at supporters from his home. He was admitted in hospital last on July 18 for a change of tracheostomy tube.
