Cries of ‘Kalaignar vaazhagu’ rent the air as scores of anxious cadre gathered outside DMK President M Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence in Chennai well past midnight. The news that the 94-year-old leader’s health had deteriorated overnight had traveled fast.
Karunanidhi’s family members, including MK Stalin and senior DMK leaders like A Raja, Durai Murugan, Ponmudi, Dayanidhi Maran among others, who had just returned to their respective homes after spending the day at Gopalapuram, rushed back to be with the ailing leader.
While Stalin had, earlier in the day, reassured party cadre and other supporters that Karunanidhi’s health has improved with his fever and infection stabilising, sources told TNM that his vital parameters dropped at around 11pm on Friday.
Although a team of medical professionals has been monitoring Karunanidhi’s health round the clock for the past few months, a decision was taken to shift the former CM to Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet. An ambulance was sent and at around 1.15am, Karunanidhi was brought out of the house in a stretcher, even as a visibly upset Stalin waited by the portico.
Three kilometres away in CIT colony, crowds began trickling in and curious bystanders were soon joined by emotional party cadre. Several of them barely managed to keep their tears in check as VIP vehicles rushed past them into Kauvery Hospital.
At 1.20 am, the ambulance arrived at the hospital and the DMK patriarch was accompanied by his daughter MK Kanimozhi and former union minister A Raja. Tensions permeated the air as the crowds grew larger and over 200 policemen were deployed to control them.
DMK Working President MK Stalin, MK Alagiri and other leaders arrived at the hospital soon after and sources told TNM that Karunanidhi remained in a critical condition.
His family had told the media on Friday afternoon that his fever had stabilised, his blood pressure began to drop in the night, forcing them to rush him to hospital.
It was former Union Minister A Raja who finally dispelled the unease that cut through the air. He came out to meet the media and public, and said, "Karunanidhi was admitted due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. He was brought to hospital and treated, and his blood pressure is normal now. He is out of danger. His pressure is normal, he is okay. He has stabilised due to medical support."
Relief for anxious cadre waiting outside the Kauvery hospital. Chants of long live Kalaignar after medical bulletin says he is now stable. #Karunanidhi pic.twitter.com/STQRDnMGoX
— Anna Isaac (@anna_isaac) July 27, 2018
Cheers rent the air as supporters raised slogans praising the ailing party chief and soon the hospital issued a medical bulletin: “DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi has been admitted on 28th July at 1.30 AM in the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital following drop in Blood Pressure. His Blood Pressure has been stabilised with medical management and he continues to be monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors."
The document was signed by Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director of Kauvery Hospital. And while this news comes as temporary relief for supporters and well-wishers, the fact that age is not on Karunanidhi's side, is an undeniable fact that looms large. After the announcement, a slight drizzle sent most supporters home, but some stayed back, taking refuge under a flyover, waiting for more news on their beloved leader.