NEW DELHI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M. Karunanidhi passed away on Tuesday in Kauvery hospital in Chennai. The hospital released a press statement announcing the death of the 94-year-old five-time DMK cheif. "Dr. M Karunanidhi passed away at 6.10 pm. Despite best efforts of our doctors and nurses to resuscitate him, he failed to respond," Kauvery Hospital reported. He was undergoing treatment for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on July 28 following a dip in blood pressure, which stabilised following medical intervention.

In the following weeks, Karunanidhi developed fever after his UTI infection aggravated due to which he was undergoing hospital-like treatment at his Gopalapuram residence. However, after the DMK chief's health worsened on July 28 mid-night he was rushed to Kauvery Hospital around 1:30 am.

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Who was Muthuvel Karunanidhi?


• Born on June 3, 1924, as Dakshinamurthi, in Nagapattinam district, Karunanidhi never lost an election, having been elected to the state Assembly 13 times since 1957.

• Karunanidhi married thrice, namely to Padmavathi Ammal, Dayalu Ammal and Rajathi Ammal.

• He has four sons, namely M. K. Muthu, M. K. Alagiri, M. K. Stalin, and M. K. Tamilarasu and two daughters, Selvi and Kanimozhi. M. K. Muthu, his eldest son, was born to Padmavathy, who died early. Azhagiri, Stalin, Selvi and Tamilarasu were born to Dayalu, while Kanimozhi is the only daughter from his third wife, Rajathi.

• Karunanidhi's remarkable literary skills and success as a screenwriter and subsequent popularity played a big role in his rise in the DMK.

• The leader who was also popularly called Kalaingar, the Tamil word for an artist, for his contribution to cinema and literature was one of the favourites of DMK founder Annadurai.

• His successful electoral debut was seen in 1957 when he won from Kulithalai constituency, one among the first 15 MLAs elected to the then Madras Legislative Assembly on a DMK ticket.

• He went on to become chief minister of the state for five times after the death of Annadurai in 1969 besides serving DMK as the party president.

• Karunanidhi was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister five times between 1969-71, 71-76, 89-91, 96-01 and 2006-11.

• He holds the record of winning his seat in every election in which he has participated in a political career spanning more than 60 years.

In the last 10 days, a virtual Who's Who of Indian politics - right from President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and leaders from various parties including the BJP, Left and others - visited the hospital to express their wishes for Karunanidhi's speedy recovery.