As Chief Minister, he had pioneered several welfare schemes and introduced freebies in the Indian politics. An avowed atheist, Karunanidhi was known for his trademark dark glasses as well as a yellow stole. The latter, critics felt, betrayed his hidden superstitious feelings.
AMN / Chennai
Tamil icon and DMK chief and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi passed away today. The 94 year old leader was admitted to a city hospital few days back due to old age health problems.
“Despite the best possible efforts by our team of doctors and nurses to resuscitate him, he failed to respond,” the hospital said in a statement.
Karunanidhi dominated the Tamil Nadu politics for six decades along with arch-rivals MG Ramachandran and later, J Jayalalithaa
On July 29, Mr Karunanidhi’s vital signs had weakened triggering huge concern, but the crisis passed within hours. The hospital later called it a “transient setback” and the doctors advised a longer stay, citing “age related overall decline, altered liver function and haematological parameters”.
The death of Mr. Karunanidhi, five times Chief Minister and 13 times MLA, is considered a loss in the politics of Tamil Nadu.
President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed their griefover the sad demise of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi.
President Ram Nath Kovind said in a message that he is extremely sad tolearn about M Karunanidhi’ death.
Mr Kovind termed Mr Karunaidhi as a doyen of public life, a contributorto the development of Tamil Nadu and of India.
Vice President Venkaiya Naidu described Karunanidhi as one of theleading and longstanding politicians of the country who left a mark of his ownduring his long public life of about 80 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his message said the country has lost adeep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwartwhose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised.
Mr Modi said he stood for regional aspirations as well as nationalprogress and he was steadfastly committed to the welfare of Tamils and ensuredthat Tamil Nadu’s voice was effectively heard.
The Prime Minister said his thoughts are with the family and thecountless supporters of Karunanidhi in this hour of grief. He said country andparticularly Tamil Nadu will miss him immensely.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Chennai tomorrow morning topay his last respects to Kalaignar Karunanidhi.
During the last stretch of his illness, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkiah Naidu and a number of political leaders across party lines visited him — initially at his home and then at the hospital. Among them were Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, union minister Nitin Gadkari, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien, actor-politicians Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
Like MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Mr Karunanidhi quit a flourishing career in movies to devote himself to politics and the Dravidian movement led by Periyar EVR — which he joined soon after it started in 1949. The “Kalaignar” (artiste) was known for his film scripts – a skill that greatly helped him in his political career. His powers of oratory bestowed on him a cult status much similar to Jayalalithaa.