DMK chief Karunanidhi recovering after ‘transient setback'

Chennai: The health condition of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi suffered a ‘transient setback’, but his vital signs were normalising with active medical support, even as DMK Working President M K Stalin appealed to party cadres to remain calm.

A bulletin issued by Kauvery Hospital Executive Director Dr Aravindan Selvraj late on Sunday evening said “there was a transient setback in the clinical condition of Mr Karunanidhi.”

“With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising”, the bulletin said, adding, Mr Karunanidhi continues to be closely monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors.

The bullet in comes in the backdrop of a flurry of activities at the hospital, when the family members of Mr Karunandihi, including his son Mr Stalin, his elder brother and former Union Minister M K Alagiri, sister and Rajya Sabha Member Kanimozhi rushed to the hospital around 2000 hrs.

With the arrival of family members one by one, anxiety was writ large on the face of thousands of DMK cadres, who had gathered outside the hospital, braving a short, but sharp showers.

Commotion prevailed for a while and the situation outside the hospital remained tense as restless cadres, eager to know about the health condition of their leader, tried to breach police barricades, prompting the police to resort to mild force to disperse them.

The strengthening of security at the hospital and at the Gopalapuram residence of the nonagenarian leader further heightened the tension. Minutes after the bulletin was issued, DMK Propoganda Secretary and former Union Minister A Raja told reporters that it was true that the health condition of Mr Karunanidhi suffered a minor and temporary setback for a while, but it was medically set right by the doctors.

He said after medical support, his condition has normalised and he was being continuously monitored by a team of doctors at the ICU.

While reiterating that Mr Karunanidhi’s health condition was normal, Mr Raja requested the crowd to disperse from the hospital premises.

Police also appealed to the crowd to disperse stating that the condition of Mr Karunanidhi has started returning to normal. But the DMK cadres were unmoved following which they were chased away in which a couple of them suffered minor injuries. (UNI)