President Ram Nath Kovind visits M Karunanidhi in Kauvery hospital

Chennai: President Ram Nath Kovind visited ailing DMK president M Karunanidhi at the Kauvery Hospital on Sunday and enquired about his health. He was at the hospital for about 20 minutes.

The President briefly interacted with Karunanidhi's son and DMK working president M K Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi, DMK's Rajya Sabha Member, at the hospital. He was also briefed by doctors on the condition of the ailing DMK chief, hospital sources said. 

“Visited Thiru M Karunanidhi in Chennai, met Kalaignar's family members and doctors and inquired about his health. Wishing the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a veteran of our public life, a quick recovery,” the official Twitter account of Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The President arrived from Hyderabad and was received by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and cabinet colleagues, besides senior officials. 

He drove straight to Kauvery Hospital, accompanied by the Governor and senior state minister D. Jayakumar as the protocol minister. After the hospital visit, President Kovind travelled to Thiruvavanthapuram.

Several prominent personalities and political leaders have visited Karunanidhi at the hospital since his admission on July 28when his blood pressure dropped. 

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu visited the hospital last week. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Suresh Prabhu visited on Saturday (August 4). A big crowd of DMK cadres and admirers of Karunidhi continued to keep vigil outside the hospital, many of them raising slogans hailing their leader Kalaignar whenever a dignitary came to enquire about his health.

There has been no bulletin from the hospital after its July 31 statement that had said Karunanidhi would require an extended period of hospitalisation due to ‘decline’ in his general health although his vital parameters have normalised. Informed sources say the ‘grim’ situation continues in the ICU.