CM Expresses Grief At Karunanidhi’s Demise, Directs Minister To Attend Funeral

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed deep grief over the sad demise of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi. Conveying heartfelt condolences, the Chief Minister described Karunanidhi as a tall leader of Tamil Nadu, who played a key role in social change and reforms in the state. In fact, he was much ahead of his times, said the CM.

The Chief Minister has directed Odisha Finance Minister Shasibhusan Behera and BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra to attend the late Karunanidhi’s funeral.

In his message, Naveen said that as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu several times, Karunanidhi had made significant contribution in the development of the state and had played a crucial role in national politics as well. He had also made immense contribution to Tamil literature and cinema. With his demise marks the end of an era in Tamil Nadu and India has lost one of its worthiest sons, he added.

The Chief Minister prayed for peace and tranquility of the departed soul and expressed deep sympathy with the family members.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also mourned the death of the DMK chief. He took to Twitter to express his grief over the sad demise of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M Karunanidhi passed away at 6:10 pm on Tuesday, informed a medical bulletin, released by Kauvery Hospital in Chennai at 6:45 pm.

According to sources, Karunanidhi’s sons MK Stalin, MK Alagiri and daughter Kanimozhi met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami at his home on Tuesday morning to discuss a possible last resting place for their father at the Marina Beach, where all iconic leaders of the state are buried.

A large number of DMK cadres and supporters gathered outside the hospital on hearing the news. Many of them have been staying there since Monday evening.

Karunanidhi was admitted to the hospital for the first time on July 18 for what his family said was a change of his tracheostomy tube.

On July 26, the hospital authorities said Karunanidhi was suffering from urinary tract infection and was being treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids. His condition turned bad on July 28 with a drop in blood pressure.

Karunanidhi as a politician,

Karunanidhi never lost an election. He served as Chief Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu for five separate terms in the period 1969-2011.

He was a long-standing leader of the Dravidian Self-Respect Movement and ten-time president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Karunanidhi as a screenwriter,

Karunanidhi began his career as a screenwriter in the Tamil film industry. His first movie as a screenwriter was Rajakumari produced by Coimbatore based Jupiter Pictures and directed by ASA Sami.

He was known for powerful dialogues that adopted the theme of social justice and indulged in much upper-class bashing.

Mouthing Karunanidhi’s weighty lines, thespian Sivaji Ganesan made a stunning debut in the 1952 film Parasakthi.

He was popularly known as Kalaignar (artist). 

Karunanidhi as a literateur

He also contributed to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

The books written by Karunanidhi include Sanga Thamizh, Thirukkural Urai, Ponnar Sankar, Romapuri Pandian, Thenpandi Singam, Vellikizhamai, Nenjukku Needhi, Iniyavai Irubathu and Kuraloviam. He wrote more than 100 prose and poetry books.