Chennai: After news about DMK president M Karunanidhi’s health suffering a setback had the cadres in tears, a semblance of order returned in the vicinity of Kauvery Hospital once Karunanidhi’s son and DMK working president M K Stalin left for home tonight.
Apart from Stalin, Karunanidhi’s daughter and DMK MP Kanimozhi also left for home tonight. (Latest reports say that Kanimozhi and DMK leader Ponmudi have returned to the hospital.)
According to TV reports, Karunanidhi’s personal physician, Dr Gopal, is also said to have left the hospital.
A whole host of DMK leaders, MLAs and party functionaries left the hospital after this development.
But the cadres continue to throng Kauvery Hospital, causing massive traffic jams in the Alwarpet area. Police have made alternative traffic arrangements to manage the traffic in the busy area.
Earlier in the evening, leaders from different parties continued to call at the hospital. DMDK leader L K S Sudish visited the hospital, as also CPI-M State secretary K Balakrishnan.
Union Road and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari arrived from New Delhi early in the evening and headed straight for Kauvery Hospital. He met Stalin and Kanimozhi and asked after their father.
POLICE STEP UP SECURITY
More police personnel have been brought in near the hospital’s vicinity to maintain peace as the cadres crowd shows no sign of dwindling.
Chennai Commissioner of Police A K Viswanathan held a meeting at the Mylapore Assistant Commissioner’s office regarding police security in the area.