Photos: Karunanidhi dies at 94, a look at his political journey

M Karunanidhi, DMK president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister, died at a private hospital in Chennai after a prolonged illness. He was 94. A five-term chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi was a multi-faceted personality--a top politician, a star scriptwriter for Tamil movies, author, and an impressive orator. Born on June 3, 1924, the iconic Dravidian leader had recently entered his 50th year as the chief of DMK, making him the longest-serving president of a political party in India.

Updated on: Aug 08, 2018 1:33 PM IST

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The 94-year-old DMK patriarch and five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi passed away yesterday after a prolonged illness in Chennai. He was a multifaceted personality --a top politician, a star scriptwriter for Tamil movies, author and an impressive orator. (SN Sinha / HT Archive)

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Karunanidhi is seen with Indira Gandhi when she was elected as Prime Minister in 1980. Karunanidhi’s role in national politics deserves more attention than it drew during his active political years. As an advocate of state autonomy, he put up stiff resistance to authoritarian rule by Gandhi during the Emergency of 1975-77 without worrying about the consequences. (N Thyagarajan / HT Archive)

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Actor Rajinikanth receiving the best actor award from Karunanidhi at the Tamil Nadu Government’s Annual Film Awards presentation function in Chennai in May 1997. (HT Archive)

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Then chief minister of Punjab, Zail Singh hugs M Karunanidhi, chief minister of Tamil Nadu at Chief Ministers’ Conference held in New Delhi on July 23, 1972. (Rane Prakash / HT Archive)

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There are many qualities that distinguish DMK leader from other politicians in Tamil Nadu. These include his humble origins, a socially-embedded political awareness and political activism right since childhood. He began his social and political campaigns at 14. (HT Archive)

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Fakkhruddin Ali Ahmed and M Karunanidhi seen enjoying a light moment during the Chief Ministers’ Conference held in New Delhi on July 23, 1972. Karunanidhi was among the principal political players who ensured Indian democracy took into account the voice of the South. (Rane Prakash / HT Archive)

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Karunanidhi (R) stands with Vishwanath Pratap Singh, NT Rama Rao, and Prafulla Mahanta at a meeting of the National Front in November 1989. Karunanidhi, with colleagues from a similar political tradition, ensured that the Indian state would respect linguistic diversity. He ensured that Indian federalism would truly respect states and pioneered advocacy of greater power to the states. (SN Sinha / HT Archive)

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The DMK chief is seen with senior BJP leader and then home minister LK Advani on April 07, 1998. Karunanidhi’s political life may have centred around Tamil Nadu, but that never came in the way of his developing a rapport with national leaders across parties. (HT Archive)

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The former Tamil Nadu chief minister greets then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at his South Block office in New Delhi on April 07, 1998. (Girish Srivastava / HT Archive)

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Karunanidhi presents a shawl to former Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi in 2006. The DMK patriarch trusted Sonia Gandhi and was instrumental in naming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Sonia also reciprocated Karunanidhi with respect. Be it selecting a candidate for the presidential election or on any other issue, he would be consulted first. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Archive)

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Karunanidhi shares a light moment with then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi during the 54th National Development Council meeting in New Delhi. The great survivor of Tamil Nadu politics was an eloquent orator, a Tamil writer of repute, indomitable publisher and all-weather political strategist. (Sunil Saxena / HT Archive)

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DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi attends the marriage reception of state BJP President, Tamilisai Soundararajan’s son on February 17, 2006. (V Srinivasulu / HT Archive)

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Stalin with Karunanidhi at his residence after he was elected as DMK's working president in the party's general council meeting. It goes without saying that the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led an incredibly rich political life. (V. Srinivasulu / HT Archive)