Karunanidhi death: Mortal remains of DMK Chief kept at Rajaji Hall for public; leaders pay respects

The 94-year-old leader breathed his last at the Kauvery Hospital in downtown Chennai at 6.10 p.m after waging a grim battle for life for 11 days

Image courtesy: ANI

Chennai: Hundreds gathered outside Rajaji Hall in Chennai to pay last tribute to DMK President M. Karunanidhi; was breathed his last on Tuesday evening. The body of late Karunanidhi has been covered with national flag at Rajaji Hall, where it was brought on early Wednesday morning from his residences at CIT colony and Gopalapuram for his relatives and leaders to pay last respects. All the leaders of DMK have assembled at Rajaji Hall, where leaders all over the country are visiting. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswamy and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam also paid their last tributes to Karunanidhi. “This is a great loss for Tamil Nadu. My deep condolences to his family members and DMK party workers” Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswami said. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi is flying to Chennai today for late Karunanidhi’s last rites. The 94-year-old leader breathed his last at the Kauvery Hospital in downtown Chennai at 6.10 p.m after waging a grim battle for life for 11 days, the hospital said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswamy & Deputy CM O Panneerselvam at Chennai's Rajaji Hall where mortal remains of former Tamil Nadu CM M #Karunanidhi are kept. pic.twitter.com/WPcwZfWrPN

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018

He had not made any public appearance for about two years due to failing health. Within minutes of Karunanidhi's death, a huge row erupted after the state's AIADMK government rejected the demand of the DMK, its long-standing political rival in state politics, for land on the famed sands of the Marina beach where he could be buried.

#Visuals from Chennai's Rajaji Hall where mortal remains of former Tamil Nadu CM M #Karunanidhi are kept. pic.twitter.com/D4XsRHTd81

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018

Wasting no time, DMK's counsel P Wilson and A Sarvanan rushed to the residence of H G Ramesh, the Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, with a plea to direct the state government to revoke its decision denying permission for Karunanidhi's burial and erection of a memorial to him on the beach.