'Karunanidhi like a father figure to me,' Sonia Gandhi writes letter to Stalin

New Delhi, Aug 8: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a touching letter to MK Stalin, condoling the passing away of Karunanidhi.

In the letter, the former Congress president described Karunanidhi as a "towering figure in the world of politics".

"For me, Kalaignar's loss is very personal. He always showed me great kindness and consideration, which I can never forget. He was like a father figure to me," Gandhi wrote.

"Throughout his long and magnificent life, he stood unwavering for social justice and equality, for development, progress and prosperity of Tamil Nadu, and for the well-being of every single citizen, especially the poorest and most marginalised," she said.

"He was also a brilliant literary figure who did so much to promote Tamil Nadu's rich and distinctive culture and arts, and brought worldwide recognition for it," she added.

"His decades at the helm of Tamil Nadu's government and politics have left a superb and enduring legacy, for which he will forever be honoured and remembered. I believe he had full confidence that you would nurture and take forward his legacy.""We shall not see the like of Kalaignar again, and our nation is poorer without his wise statesmanship, and his dedication to our country and our people," Gandhi wrote in her letter to Stalin.

Karunanidhi, 94, died at a private hospital yesterday following prolonged illness. The prime minister in his message had described the DMK chief as a prolific thinker and a deep-rooted mass leader who stood for regional aspiration and national progress.