M Karunanidhi leaders bid adieu to Ko Si Mani

DMK president M Karunanidhi on Saturday paid rich tributes to his late party colleague and former Minister Ko Si Mani, recalling his ground work in the then undivided Thanjavur district. Karunanidhi, recuperating at a private hospital here for allergy, said when he was “hesitatingly informed” that Mani had passed away, he had wanted to immediately rush to Kumbakonam to pay his last respects. “Even though he was not well for the past two years, he would still come and meet me aided by two persons,” Karunanidhi recalled. The senior DMK leader died of respiratory problem on Friday at around 9.15 pm at a private hospital in Kumbakonam. Subsequently, the body was taken to his house at Aduthurai where it was kept for public homage. 

DMK treasurer and Opposition leader MK Stalin placed the party flag and paid homage and consoled his sons Ilangovan, Anbalagan and Pugalendi and his daughters. DMK leaders TR Baalu, A Raja, SS Palanimanickam, KN Nehru, Ponmudi, Thangam Thennarasu and others accompanied him. “The late Minister KoSi Mani is a man of hard work, and one of the pillars of DMK. He always obeyed whatever Karunanidhi said. His death is a great loss to the party and the party mourns over the demise of a dedicated cadre,” Stalin said. 

Meanwhile, MDMK general secretary Vaiko who reached there broke down. Subsequently, members of Congress, AIADMK, TMC, CPI and CPM paid homage. In the evening his body was taken to his native place of Mekkririmangalanam and public gave a tearful farewell.