DMK chief in ICU, but stable: Family
CHENNAI : Ailing DMK president M Karunanidhi, who was shifted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai early Saturday after his blood pressure dropped, is stable, his daughter said.
Karunanidhi, 94, who had been receiving medical treatment at home past few days, was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of Kauvery Hospital at 1:30 am. The hospital in a statement said he was brought there after his blood pressure had dropped.
Later MK Stalin and Kanimozhi visited their father in the hospital. “He is better. His blood pressure has stabilised,” Kanimozhi said. DMK leader A Raja also said the DMK leader’s blood pressure was normal and “there is nothing to worry”.
A team of doctors had reached Karunanidhi’s home at about midnight and reviewed his condition. They then decided to shift him to the hospital after discussing with the veteran politician’s family members.
Several senior DMK leaders, including working president MK Stalin and his estranged elder brother MK Alagiri were at the hospital. Other frontline leaders such as Duraimurugan, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi and former Union minister A Raja were also there.
On Friday, Stalin said there was a good improvement in his father’s health as the infection had abated considerably. A statement from Kauvery Hospital on Thursday said Karunanidhi, a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu, was suffering from urinary tract infection and was being treated at his home.
“He is currently being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. He is being monitored and treated round the clock by a team of medical and nursing professionals, who are providing hospital-level care at his home,” the hospital’s executive director Aravindan Selvaraj had said.
Karunanidhi, who has not been keeping well since October 2016, was recently admitted to Kauvery Hospital for change of the tracheostomy tube that helps him breathe.
Party cadres had poured in near the hospital complex after receiving the news about Karunanidhi being admitted there. They were chanting “long live Thalaivar” (leader). For the past two years, the DMK president has not been making any public appearance owing to his ill health, but he still holds the top post in the Dravidian party.
(With PTI inputs)