CMs, leaders condole death of Thalaivar Karunanidhi

The DMK chief, one of the foremost Dravidian politicians in modern times, died at a Chennai hospital where he was admitted for the last 11 days.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said the DMK leader left his "imprint" in national politics and his demise was a "big loss" to Tamil Nadu. "Former Chief Minister Karunanidhi's demise is a big loss to Tamil Nadu," he said in a statement.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the country has lost one of its greatest sons. "Today India lost one of its greatest sons. And Tamil Nadu lost its father figure. Farewell @Kalaignar89," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle.

"My deepest condolences to the people of Tamil Nadu, @arivalayam, @mkstalin, @KanimozhiDMK and family. India mourns your loss," she added.

Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi too expressed his grief over Karunanidhi's death.

Offering his condolences, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the DMK patriarch as the tallest leader of Tamil Nadu, who played a key role in social change and reforms in the state.

He said that as CM of Tamil Nadu for several terms, Karunanidhi had made significant contribution in the development of the state and had played a crucial role in national politics as well.

His contribution to Tamil literature and cinema was immense. "With his demise marks the end of an era in Tamil Nadu and India lost one of its worthiest son," the Chief Minister Patnaik added.

He has asked Odisha Finance Minister SB Behera and senior BJD leader Devi Prasad Mishra to attend the funeral of the late leader.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das in his condolence message, said the vacuum created in politics following Karunanidhi's death will not be filled.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP MP Shatrughan also expressed profound grief over Karunanidhi's demise.

"The country has lost a big political personality who always kept democratic values at the top. He was a leading personality of social and economic uplift in Tamil Nadu," Kumar said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Feel v sad to hear about the demise of this great leader. May his soul rest in peace. It’s a great loss to the nation (sic)." He will leave for Chennai tomorrow, a government official said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said social reforms always remained the agenda of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. "Karunanidhi's death is a great loss to the country. He was a popular leader who gave a new direction to Tamil Nadu politics. Social reforms were always his agenda," he said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Karunanidhi will always be remembered as a leader of masses in the Indian political realm.

One of the most charismatic figures of Tamil Nadu politics whose public life spanned over seven decades, Karunanidhi is survived by two wives and six children, including DMK working president and heir apparent M K Stalin and daughter Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP.