Karunanidhi's health declines, DMK leader on 'active medical support'

DMK President M Karunanidhi's health condition has declined, and maintaining his vital organ functions remain a challenge due to age-related ailments, said the private hospital in Chennai where the politician is undergoing treatment.
"He is on continuous monitoring and being treated with active medical support. His response to medical intervention over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis," Kauvery Hospital's release said on Monday.

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was admitted to the facility on 28 July after his blood pressure dropped. The hospital faced a scare the next day when Karunanidhi, 94, had difficulties in breathing.
In an official statement on 31 July, Kauvery Hospital's Executive Director, Aravindaran Selvaraj, said Karunanidhi will have to stay at the facility for some more time due to an overall decline in his general health.
Many senior leaders, including Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, have visited Karunanidhi in hospital.
The DMK chief was admitted to Kauvery Hospital in December 2016 for breathing difficulties. He had undergone a tracheostomy, the procedure to enable supply of more oxygen into the lungs.

Karunanidhi in ICU after drop in blood pressure, docs say he's stable

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was hospitalised early on Saturday after his blood pressure dropped, officials of the health facility said.
The management of Kauvery Hospital said the 94-year-old DMK leader, who was admitted to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at 1.30 am, was stable. A panel of doctors was treating him.
The five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has been suffering from urinary tract infection and age-related ailments and was earlier under treatment at his home.
DMK working president and his son, M K Stalin, visited the hospital. Other frontline leaders such as Duraimurugan, Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, who is Karunanidhi's daughter, and former Union minister A Raja too visited the hospital.
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). Some of them were holding Karunanidhi's photos.
The Kauvery Hospital, which is monitoring his health, said on Thursday that there has been a decline in Karunanidhi's health due to age-related ailments.
"He is currently being treated...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," Kauvery Hospital's Executive Director, Aravindan Selvaraj, said.
DMK leaders had visited Karunanidhi's home in Gopalapuram area before he was taken to the hospital. Among the visitors was Stalin's estranged elder brother, M K Alagiri, who was expelled from the party by the DMK chief in January 2014 after a prolonged power tussle.

Hours before Karunanidhi was moved to the hospital, Stalin had said the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's health was improving. On Wednesday, he had assured people that there was nothing to worry about his father's health.
Security was tightened at the former Tamil Nadu CM's residence as DMK cadres kept pouring in there as well.
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.
Karunanidhi has not been keeping well since October 2016. A few days ago, he underwent a procedure to change his tracheostomy tube to help him in breathing.
Karunanidhi, who is addressed as 'Kalaignar' (artiste) by his supporters, followers and some politicians, entered his 50th year as party chief on Friday.