Chennai: The DMK today said 21 of its party workers have died unable to bear the “shock” of the illness and hospitalisation of party chief M Karunanidhi.
The party also appealed to cadres not to take any extreme step in view of the 94-year-old former chief minister’s health.
“I am deeply depressed to learn that 21 party workers have died unable to bear the shock of party president Kalaignar’s illness (and hospitalisation),” DMK working president M K Stalin said today.
As Karunanidhi continues to be under intensive care for the fifth consecutive day today at Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet, the party top leader said he was grieved by such deaths and conveyed his condolences to the next of kin of the affected families.
The identity of the deceased has, however, not been disclosed by him.
Quoting a statement from the hospital, Stalin said the health condition of the party patriarch was “normalising“, and a team of doctors was constantly monitoring him.
“It is a good news and giving us confidence,” he said, adding that the emotional cries (Thalaiva Va / ‘Leader Come’) of cadres urging their leader to make a comeback did not go in vain.
Stalin, who is also Karunanidhi’s son and successor in the DMK, asked the cadres to realise that he cannot bear the loss of even a single party worker’s life.
The principle of “duty, dignity and discipline should be followed making Anna (party founder) and Kalaignar proud”, he said. “No one should take any extreme step that may result in loss of their life,” he appealed.
Karunanidhi was admitted to the hospital 28 July following a dip in his blood pressure.