Karunanidhi left his imprint in national politics: TN CM Palaniswami

Expressing grief over the passing away of the Dravidian veteran, Palaniswami extended his sympathies to the leader's family, especially his son and DMK Working President MK Stalin, also the state Leader of the Opposition, and to DMK cadres.

"Former Chief Minister Karunanidhi's demise is a big loss to Tamil Nadu," Palaniswami said in a statement.

Tracing Karunanidhi's 50 year-journey as DMK chief, he said the former Chief Minister was one of the senior most political leaders of the country.

"I was grieved to know that Mr M Karunanidhi, a present MLA, died at a private hospital," he said.

Karunanidhi represented his native Tiruvarur Assembly segment in the current assembly.

The Chief Minister recalled that Karunanidhi took to literary activity as a school student and involved himself in various social movements at the age of 14.

The veteran leader made his legislative debut in 1957 from Kulithalai constituency, remaining unbeaten in all elections that he contested since then, he said.

Karunanidhi took over the reins of the state as its Chief Minister in 1969, he said, adding, "he strived for social justice."

He was a five-time Chief Minister, Palaniswami said. The DMK leader had displayed his talent in the cinema industry as a script and dialogue writer and "created social awareness through them," the chief minister said.

"He left his imprint not just in Tamil Nadu politics, but on national politics," Palaniswami said.

Earlier today, Karunanidhi passed away at a private hospital here at 6.10 PM after a prolonged illness.

"With deep anguish we announce the demise of our beloved Kalaignar M Karunanidhi on 07.08.2018 at 6.10 pm. Despite the best possible efforts by our team of doctors and nurses to resuscitate him, he failed to respond," Kauvery Hospital, where he was admitted to, had said.