TN Chief Minister E K Palaniswami visits M Karunanidhi, in Kauvery Hospital

Adarsh Rout: Thousands of supporters gathered outside Chennai’s Kauvery hospital on Sunday evening as ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s condition took a turn for the worse. The veteran leader’s family, too, had reached the hospital and Chief Minister E Palaniswami cut short his tour to Salem and headed for Chennai. In a late night statement, the hospital said his health stabilised. Calling it a “transient setback”, the hospital said Mr Karunanidhi was improving.

But even after the statement from the hospital and appeals from party leaders, the supporters refused to disperse, leading the police to use mild force so the family and other DMK leaders could leave.