Karunanidhi suffers slight decline in health, says hospital

Chennai, July 26: DMK chief M Karunanidhi's health condition deteriorated on Thursday as he is undergoing treatment at his Gopalapuram residence by doctors of Kauvery hospital.

"There has been a decline in the health of DMK President M Karunanidhi's due to age related ailments. He is being treated for fever due to urinary tract infection. He is being given hospital level treatment at home," a medical bulletin released by the Kauvery Hospital said.

The former chief minister is under medical supervision on 24 hours and visitors have been asked not to come directly. "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.

"Considering his medical condition, the team of doctors have strongly advised for restriction of visitors," the statement added.

An AIADMK delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and actor-turned-politician called on him at his residence. Panneerselvam and his cabinet colleague D Jayakumar said Karunanidhi was "doing well." "Karunanidhi will return in good health soon," Jayakumar told reporters.

Jayakumar said it was political decency for the ruling party to visit Karunanidhi's residence, adding that a DMK delegation visited the Apollo hospitals here when former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was undergoing treatment in 2016.

The AIADMK delegation, which included ministers S P Velumani and P Thangamani, held discussions with Karunanidhi's son and working president M K Stalin. Senior DMK leaders, including Duraimurugan and TR Baalu, were present during the meeting

The veteran leader was admitted to the hospital for "optimisation of nutrition and hydration" in the first week of December that year and later, due to a throat and lung infection.

He had undergone tracheostomy, a procedure to optimise breathing.