Karunanidhi passed away on Tuesday evening
People queued up in large numbers early this morning at Rajaji Hall here to pay their last respects to DMK president M Karunanidhi who died yesterday after prolonged illness.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, senior state ministers, AMMK leader and RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran, superstar Rajinikanth and his family, and actor Sivakarthikeyan among others paid homage to Karunanidhi.
Speaking to reporters, Palaniswami said Karunanidhi's demise was a "big loss to Tamil Nadu".
He extended his sympathies to DMK working president and Leader of Opposition, MK Stalin, Karunanidhi's family, and the DMK workers.
Palaniswami and Panneerselvam had a brief conversation with Stalin during which they apparently extended their sympathies to him over the loss.
Karunanidhi's body was earlier brought to the stately Rajaji Hall from his CIT Nagar residence for the public to pay homage to the former chief minister.
The Indian tricolour was draped over the body of Karunanidhi. His relatives, including children Stalin, MK Selvam and Kanimozhi, were seen standing beside the mortal remains of the Dravidian stalwart.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others are scheduled to pay homage later in the day to the leader, fondly addressed as Kalaignar (artiste).
Grim-faced party leaders and MLAs were seen seated along the stairs of Rajaji Hall.
Supporters and mourners started pouring in at Rajaji Hall early in the morning, with some of them raising slogans hailing their 'thalaivar' (leader).
Chants of supporters seeking a space at the Marina beach for the burial of Karunanidhi could also be heard, especially during the visit of the AIADMK delegation.
The DMK had late last night moved the Madras High Court against the government's refusal to its demand for space at the Marina for Karunanidhi citing certain court cases.
The AIADMK government had offered to allot space at Sardar Patel Road, near the memorials of former chief ministers C Rajagopalachary and K Kamaraj.
A high court bench is slated to delver its verdict on the matter today.
The 94-year-old leader breathed his last at the Kauvery Hospital in downtown Chennai at 6.10 pm yesterday after waging a grim battle for life for 11 days.
1. Catching up on the news
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A file picture of M Karunanidhi reading the news on his tablet. In his eight decades in politics, five decades of which he spent serving as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister during various terms, Karunanidhi has been responsible in implementing various path-breaking schemes that indicated he was well ahead of his times - PTI
2. Penning down an op-ed
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Karunanidhi entered politics at the age of 14, where he participated in anti-Hindi agitations where he founded a student organisation called Tamil Nadu Tamil Manavar Mandram, which was the first student wing of the Dravidan Movement. Here he started a newspaper for its members, which grew into Murasoli, the DMK party's official newspaper. - PTI
3. The dog lover
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M Karunanidhi was loved dogs, and is seen here with his Pug named Singham
4. The love for dogs never ends
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Karunanidhi seen here with two of his earlier dogs. His last pet was a pug named Singham
5. From CM to photographer
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M Karunanidhi taking a picture of one of his dogs in this file photograph
6. Father and daughter
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A file photo of late DMK President M Karunanidhi and his daughter Kanimozhi at an event. - RNA
7. Karunanidhi awards the Kalaimamani
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A file photograph Karunanidhi presents the Kalaimamani Award at an event in Tamil Nadu. The award is presented to felicitate people in fine arts - Wikimedia Commons
8. With Sivaji Ganesan
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Karunanidhi seen with veteran Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan
9. With Sathya Sai Baba
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Karunanidhi seen sitting with Sathya Sai Baba, the Godman of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh - RNA
10. Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi
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A rare picture of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi that was circulated on social media after the late AIADMK leader was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court. The picture it seems was taken after Jayalalithaa first presented her dance-drama 'Kaveri Thantha Kalaichelvi' (The Artistic Daughter Bequeathed by the Cauvery). The show took place either in 1965 or 1967.
