Karunanidhi was kept under house arrest by his son: CM

Political discourse in Tamil Nadu plunged a new low on Monday with Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami alleging that late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was kept under “house arrest” by his son M K Stalin.

Palaniswami also indicated that the AIADMK government would launch a probe into Karunanidhi’s health.

The chief minister’s statement seems to be a counter to Stalin’s often-repeated remarks that the DMK when voted to power, would launch an investigation into the hospitalisation and subsequent death of J Jayalalithaa.

Jayalalithaa’s death has been a subject of political debate in Tamil Nadu ever since she breathed her last on December 5, 2016.

Jayalalithaa’s hospitalisation was shrouded in mystery – the first medical bulletin said she was admitted for fever and dehydration but only after health deteriorated, there was more information on her health.

"Karunanidhi is a former chief minister... he was not given proper treatment and put under house arrest by Stalin because he thought he cannot become party chief if his father did well," Palaniswami said.

Karunanidhi was confined to his house from October 2016 to August 2018 when he died due to age-related illness.

"DMK workers say Karunanidhi would have talked if he had been taken abroad and given better treatment. So, Stalin kept his father under house arrest for his own selfish interests," he said.