Karunanidhi doing well, fever and infection have come down: MK Stalin

With anxious cadres, political leaders and film personalities thronging the Gopalapuram residence in Chennai of ailing DMK president M Karunanidhi whose health condition has slightly declined in the past couple of days, his son has assured that all is well. DMK working president MK Stalin on Friday said that his father’s condition has improved with fever and infection coming down.

“His health has improved. The fever and infection have come down,” he told reporters at Gopalapuram. Later, Stalin, in a statement, urged his party cadres not to believe any rumours on Karunanidhi’s health.

Karunanidhi’s elder son MK Azhagiri and daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi also said that DMK leader’s health has improved. “We have a team of doctors monitoring his health at home where all the medical facilities are available,” Kanimozhi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were among those who have wished the nonagenarian leader a quick recovery.

A health bulletin issued by Kauveri Hospital at 7 pm on Thursday revealed a slight decline in the 94-year-old Karunanidhi’s health due to age-related ailments. It said, “He is currently being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection with intravenous antibiotics and fluids,” by a team of doctors at his home. Karunanidhi has been not keeping well since October 2016, and some days ago he had undergone a procedure to change his tracheostomy tube, provided to help in breathing.

Narendra Modi spoke to Stalin and Kanimozhi and enquired about the health of their father and offered any assistance required. “Enquired about the health of Kalaignar Karunanidhi Ji and offered any assistance required. I pray for his quick recovery and good health,” Modi tweeted.“Wishing the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a veteran of our public life, a quick recovery,” President Ram Nath Kovind said.

Stalin thanked President, PM, Rahul Gandhi, CPI (M) secretary Sitaram Yechury and others for enquiring about his father’s health. “Thalaivar is getting the best medical care and treatment. We hope he will recover soon and thank everyone in his own words,” he tweeted thanking them.Chief Minister K Palaniswami, referring to the visit of deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam and other ministers last night, said, “they (DMK) have conveyed that Karunanidhi is doing better.”

A large posse of police has been deployed outside Karunanidhi’s residence to manage the swelling crowd and stream of political party leaders and VIPs visiting there. The cadres were raising slogans hailing Karunanidhi who is affectionately called as Kalaignar (artiste).

“Kalaignar is in good health. I could not meet him but spoke to Stalin. He told me Kalaignar is recovering well,” said MDMK general secretary Vaiko. He said that he hopes that mother nature would help Karunanidhi to get well soon and speak in his “magnetic” voice.

BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said she expressed her wish to brother Stalin to see Kalaignar recover and get back to active life. “He is very close to my family. It was him who presided over my marriage. He also presided my son’s wedding,” she said.