Union Minister Nitin Gadkari call upon ailing DMK Chief M Karunanidhi

Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari paid a flying visit to Chennai to enquire about the health condition of ailing DMK patriarch after media reports claiming that his health was deteriorating.

Tamil author Suba Veerapandian also paid a visit to the hospital to enquire about the health condition of the DMK chief.

Hearing about the declining health of M Karunanidhi, large crowds gathered outside Kauvery Hospital.

Earlier in the evening a press release from the hospital stated that, there has been a decline in the medical condition of DMK president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Maintaining his vital organ functions continues to remain a challenge considering his age-related ailments.

"The DMK patriarch's response to the medical interventions over the next 24 hours will determine the prognosis," Executive Director of the Hospital Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said in the release.

Karunanidhi was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on July 28 following a dip in his blood pressure, which stabilised after medical intervention. Since then he continues to be monitored by a team of specialists.

Dignitaries and leaders, including President Ram Nath Kovind Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, former PM HD Deve Gowda had visited the hospital and enquired about the veteran's health.

For the first time since Karunanidhi was hospitalised, the DMK patriarch's wife Dayalu Ammal visited him earlier in the day today.

DMK leaders and family members Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, former Minister MK Alagiri, DMK working president MK Stalin, DMK senior leader Anbazhagan and A Raja were always by the DMK patriarch's side.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief Su Thirunavukkarasar visited the hospital in the morning and after meeting the DMK president's family members told reporters that there was a slight decline in his health.