Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) patriarch Muthuvel Karunanidhi has died in Chennai. He was 94.

Referred to fondly as Kalaignar, the Telugu-origin Dakshinamoorthy went on to adopt the name Karunanidhi to underscore his Tamil credentials.

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Following the news of the death, Tamil Nadu government has suspended all official events for the next two days. The Tamil Nadu government had earlier ordered closure of all state-owned liquor stores called TASMAC by 6.00 PM. Panicked, people were seen buying and stocking essential goods to face a virtual bandh.

The authority has put up barricades on the divider on Wallajah Road, beginning with the Marina Beach junction. Wallajah Road links Anna Salai to Marina Beach through the Chepauk area.

At Karunanidhi’s house, Gopalapuram, the family has moved his car out of the garage and cleared the entrance. The State government has deployed police heavily in the area.

On getting the news of Karunanidhi’s death, family members and senior leaders of the DMK have reached Gopalapuram. His personal assistant of years Shanmagunathan has returned from the Kauvery Hospital.