TN Governor expresses grief over DMK chief's death

The governor said several welfare schemes were implemented for the poor and underprivileged during Karunanidhi's tenure as chief minister.

"Maternity assistance scheme, the marriage assistance scheme, the creation of the Slum Clearance Board, the provision of free electricity for the benefit of farmers, the formation of many labour welfare boards, nationalisation of bus transport services were some of the most notable of them," the governor said in a statement.

"I am deeply shocked and grieved to know about the death of Dr M Karunanidhi, president of DMK and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

He was fondly called Kalaignar and was a versatile leader who held the masses mesmerized by his oratory," Purohit said.

Purohit said Karunanidhi's contribution to the development of the Tamil language would always be remembered.

His dialogues aimed at the promotion of social justice enlivened many a film and attracted the audience in large numbers to his brand of ideology, the governor added.