Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met ailing DMK supremo M Karunanidhi at Kauvery Hospital on Monday morning. EPS and OPS met Karunanidhi, and were later seen having a chat with DMK working president M K Stalin.
“DMK’s senior leader, the Hon’ble Kalaignar is undergoing medical treatment at Kauvery hospital. His condition is currently stable. I met the former Chief Minister along with O Panneerselvam, Stalin and Kanimozhi. The medical team is close by at all times, and are monitoring his health continuously”, EPS told the media.
The CM cancelled his programmes in Salem and took a flight to Chennai to meet him. EPS earlier said that the Tamil Nadu government will provide all assistance required to help Karunanidhi.
The former Chief Minister was admitted to Kauvery Hospital on Saturday, following which speculations about his health condition have been rife.
On Sunday, a photograph of Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit visiting Karunanidhi was released.
Several leaders from across the political spectrum, such as MDMK leader Vaiko, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and PMK leader S Ramadoss visited Karunanidhi on Sunday.
On Sunday evening at 9 50 pm, the hospital released a statement saying that there was a “transient setback” in Karunanidhi’s health condition, and that his vitals were normalising.
Shortly before the press release from the hospital, family members and party leaders arrived at the hospital, increasing tensions among the cadres waiting outside. The crowd continued to swell well into midnight. The police then had to step up security and reinforce barricades. Following this, DMK working president M K Stalin appealed to cadres to keep calm and to disperse.
Cadres could be heard raising slogans such as Ezhundhu va Ezhundhu va (rise and come) and Odi va odi va (run to us).
A huge gathering can still be seen outside the Kauvery Hospital, waiting for news about their leader’s health.