Chennai: Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and DMK party supremo M Karunanidhi passed away at the age of 94 in Kauvery Hospital in Chennai on Tuesday. He reportedly passed away at 6.10 pm.
The tall leader who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms, was admitted to hospital on July 28 after he contracted urinary tract infection.
The master politician was out of active politics for nearly two years as he was keeping unwell. He was hospitalised twice in December 2016 itself.
Kauvery hospital executive director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj in a press release said, “With deep anguish we announce the demise of our beloved Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi at 6.10pm on August 7, 2018. Despite the best possible efforts by our team of doctors and nurses to resuscitate him, he failed to respond. We profoundly mourn the loss of one of the tallest leaders of India India and we share the grief of family members and fellow Tamilians worldwide.”
#FLASH M Karunanidhi passes away, Kauvery hospital releases statement pic.twitter.com/gUpZgYnPiY
— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2018
The Tamil Nadu government announced a public holiday on Wednesday; as a mark of respect, the state will observe a seven day mourning.
President Ram Nath Kovind said he was extremely sad to learn of Thiru M. Karunanidhi’s death, adding “Our country is poorer today”
Extremely sad to learn of the passing of Thiru M. Karunanidhi. A doyen of our public life, as a contributor to the development of Tamil Nadu and of India he has few peers. Our country is poorer today. My condolences to his family and millions of well-wishers #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 7, 2018
Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences to the leader.
Deeply saddened by the passing away of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. He was one of the senior most leaders of India.
We have lost a deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised. pic.twitter.com/jOZ3BOIZMj
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2018
The Dravidian stalwart was born on June 3, 1924 at Thirukkuvalai in the formerly Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. A young Karunanidhi was inspired by a speech made by Alagiriswamy of the Justice Party (an organisation formed to represent the non-Brahmins in Tamil Nadu) in 1932, which later induced him to join politics.
Ms Kalinga