Several CMs, political leaders pay tribute to late DMK Chief

Several Chief Ministers and political leaders cutting across party lines today paid their last respects to late DMK chief M Karunanidhi here.

Chief Ministers H D Kumaraswamy (Karnataka), Pinaryi Vijayan (Kerala), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) and K Chandrasekhar Rao (Telangana) paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of the late leader at the Rajaji Hall here.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, his senior party colleague Prakash Karat, CPI national secretary D Raja, former chief ministers of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh Oommen Chandy and Akhilesh Yadav respectively also paid homage to the departed leader.

Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar, former Union minister Praful Patel, ex-Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah also offered their last respects.

 

Kejriwal, in his condolence message, said, "Feel very sad to hear about the demise of this great leader. May his soul rest in peace. It's a great loss to the nation."

Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala were among those who turned up to have last glimpse Karunanidhi.

"He was a tall political leader of our country and a very good administrator. When he was a chief minister, he was very considerate towards Kerala and Keralites. I remember our good relationship," Chandy said.

Tamil film fraternity led by film producers council president and actor Vishal Krishna, South Indian Artiste's Association president Nasser paid tributes to the departed DMK patriarch.

Writer and lyricist Vairamuthu broke down while speaking to reporters as he quoted a poem written by Karunanidhi after Periyar E V Ramasamy's demise.

"Can we accept destruction of Taj Mahal just because it is an old structure? Just like what Karunanidhi wrote for Periyar's demise, it is difficult to accept the fact that Kalaignar is no more," he said.