DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, 5-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, passes away at 94

DMK patriarch and five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi breathed his last at the Kauvery hospital in Chennai on Tuesday after an 11-day health battle. He was 94. According to the medical bulletin, the time of death was 6.10 pm. His health had seen a significant decline in the last 24 hours due to multi-organ failure. Doctors stated that despite maximum medical support, he could not be resuscitated. Thousands of Kalaigar’s supporters are mourning outside the hospital and condolence have started pouring in for the veteran leader. Karunanidhi, who was popularly referred to as Kalaignar (actor) was admitted to the hospital on July 28 after he contracted urinary tract infection and developed a high fever.

Popularly known as Kalaignar (‘artist’), was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu for five separate terms in the 1969–2011 period. He is a long-standing leader of the Dravidian Self-respect movement and ten-time president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party. Before entering politics Karunanidhi worked in the Tamil film industry as a screenwriter. He has also made contributions to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

Karunanidhi acquired fame as a firebrand leader who never lost his composure. He also employed other tools in his arsenal – light-hearted humour and sharp wit – to disarm his political rivals.