Karunanidhi’s appeal for unity stuns House

His “great wish before death”, the 84-year-old DMK patriarch informed the respectfully silent members, was to work with all parties in a friendly way. “My last ambition is to die with a sense of comradeship,” he said.

In a direct reference to the AIADMK, Karunanidhi added that by “friendly” relations, he meant not just the allies, but also “the opposition which was once with us” (the AIADMK branched out from the DMK).

The beauty of a song cannot be negated by small distortions, he said, adding: “Those in public life should have mutual respect and cooperation and work together for society.”

“Even if I leave you earlier than the time you would have expected, I request you to follow my words,” added Karunanidhi, “not as an order from a senior leader but as a plea from a small person.”

Earlier in the day, Karunanidhi issued a statement urging partymen to not celebrate his coming birthday in June in a grand style, urging them to consider the “mental and physical strain” he would have to go through if he had to receive all the visitors.