Karunanidhi in ICU, but health is stable: Daughter Kanimozhi

DMK president M Karunanidhi's health, who was hospitalised here in the early hours of Saturday, has improved and his blood pressure is now stabilised, his daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi said.

Karunanidhi, who is being treated for fever due to a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), was rushed to Kauvery Hospital here after his blood pressure dipped on Friday midnight.

"His health is better. His blood pressure has stabilised now," Kanimozhi told reporters outside the Kauvery Hospital where Karunanidhi was admitted.

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said that Karunanidhi will be in the hospital for two days and will be kept under observation even though his condition has improved and his blood pressure has stabilised.

DMK cadres gathered outside the hospital and raised slogans hailing "Dr Kalaignar Vaazhga" (Long Live Karunanidhi).

The hospital issued a health bulletin stating that the DMK leader's blood pressure has been stabilised. Karunanidhi, who is admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) continues to be treated by a panel of expert doctors, it said.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and other leaders visited the hospital to enquire about the ailing leader's health and met his children MK Stalin and Kanimozhi on Saturday.

"His condition is improving. Each one of us is praying for his speedy recovery. I'm sure he will return home in a few days," Azad said. He was accompanied by AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Mukul Wasnik and TN Congress Committee president Su Thirunavukkarasar.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that his government will provide all medical help to DMK leader Karunanidhi if needed. "He is a five-time chief minister and a sitting MLA. We will provide all help if needed," he said, responding to a query on whether the government has offered to provide any medical help.

Hours after DMK working president MK Stalin announced that his father's health condition has improved on Friday night, Karunanidhi's blood pressure alarmingly dipped and he was rushed to the hospital for further treatment. He was admitted to the hospital at 1.30 am.

Earlier, tense moments prevailed at Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence in the early hours of Saturday when Karunanidhi's personal physician Dr Gopal arrived well past midnight. Stalin and other DMK leaders, who had left for their residence, also arrived, bringing panic among the party cadres gathered in large number outside his residence.

Karunanidhi's has been not keeping well since October 2016. Some days ago, the DMK leader had also undergone a procedure to change his tracheostomy tube, which helps in breathing. On July 26, the health bulletin had revealed a slight decline in the 94-year-old's health due to age-related ailments.