M Karunanidhi has been admitted to a hospital in Chennai since July 28
DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi is "extremely critical and unstable", a hospital in Chennai said on Tuesday, a day after the politician's health worsened. Security has been tightened outside the hospital, where crowds of supporters surged.
There had been a "significant decline" in the condition of Karunanidhi, 94, over the last few hours and his vitals were deteriorating "despite maximum medical support", said the Kauvery Hospital, where the five-time chief minister was admitted on July 28.
Karunanidhi's sons MK Stalin, MK Alagiri and daughter Kanimozhi met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami at his home earlier today, reportedly to discuss a possible last resting place for their father at the Marina Beach, where all iconic leaders of the state are buried.
The state police chief, TK. Rajendran, asked all top police officers to for duty in uniform without delay.
A huge crowd of DMK workers and supporters has massed outside the hospital. Slogans of "Ezhundhu Vaa Thalaivaa" (Arise, our leader) and "Vaa, Vaa, Gopalapuram Polaam Vaa" (Come, Come, let's go to Gopalapuram (Karunanidhi's residence) were raised by the emotionally-charged crowd.
The crowd, which has been gathering from across Tamil Nadu, including the DMK veteran's hometown Tiruvarur, started to swell after the hospital put out a grim medical bulletin on Monday evening. "There has been a decline in the medical condition of Karunanidhi. Maintaining his vital organ functions continues to remain a challenge considering his age related ailments," said the statement, adding that Karunanidhi''s response to treatment over the next 24 hours would be critical.
The DMK chief, who has been in and out of hospital and largely confined to his home over the past 18 months, 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 said Karunanidhi was suffering from urinary tract infection and was being treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids.
The DMK leader's condition turned bad on July 28 with a drop in his blood pressure.