Though the DMK-led agitation on Monday against the demonetisation of the currency notes of Rs500 and Rs1,000 by the Centre went on smoothly without affecting normal life anywhere in Tamil Nadu, what stood out is the failure of Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the 93-year-old president of the party to make a public appearance even after three weeks.
There was expectation among the DMK cadre that “Dr Kalaignar” (as Karunanidhi prefers to be addressed) would make an appearance at least in his family owned TV news channels, they were in for disappointment. Sources in DMK had said that the party chief was suffering from drug allergy and has been advised rest by his doctors.
But a photograph issued by the DMK headquarters last Friday portrays Karunanidhi in a pathetic condition. Karunanidhi, the longest serving president of any political parties in India (he assumed the DMK’s top position in 1969), is seen in a depressed state and party general secretary K Anbazhagan (95) consoling the grand old man of Indian politics. Stalin, whom Karunanidhi has anointed as his heir apparent is seen standing nearby.
Sources in the DMK say that Karunanidhi started sobbing when Anbazhagan called on him at his residence in Gopalapuram in Chennai. Anbazhagan is the first person from outside the family to visit Karunanidhi since he became bed ridden.
Since he fell ill, only his two wives and their children are allowed to meet Karunanidhi. The DMK president has been confined to his first floor bedroom in Gopalapuram residence with his first wife Dayalu Ammal.
Rajathi Ammal, his second wife, who stays at the nearby CIT Colony Road, call on him with in the mornings and evenings with his favourite delicacies which include idli, chutney, steamed rice and various kind of chicken curries.
When he was re-elected for the 11th time as party president in 2015 , the DMK cadre had expressed the hope that Karunanidhi would break the world record held by Fidel Castro who headed the Cuban Communist Party from 1961 to 2011 and emerge as the longest serving president of any political outfit in the world.