The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Karunanidhi to undergo procedure for pain relief

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Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi to undergo procedure for pain relief

R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi is to undergo a minimally invasive surgery on Wednesday as the pain in his upper back shows no sign of abatement despite being in hospital since January 26.

But, that has not stopped him from attending to office work while at the Sri Ramachandra University Hospital, Porur.

On Monday, all the five secretaries to the Chief Minister – each is in-charge of reviewing specific departments – and Finance Secretary K.Gnanadesikan were closeted with him for a pre-budget meeting for more than an hour from 9 a.m.

The budget session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly has been advanced in view of the Lok Sabha elections and the draft of the budget was presented to the Chief Minister.

After the discussions, all the secretaries to the Chief Minister except one – Shanmuganathan – left for Fort. St. George to attend to their work while the Chief Minister, Mr.Gnanadesikan, former deputy secretary (budget) Umanath and Mr.Shanmuganathan were again closeted for fine-tuning the budget proposals.

The next meeting, which began around 10.45 a.m. went on till past noon, and ended only when a para-medic reminded Mr. Karunanidhi that it was time for a few check-ups.

Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin, who is getting more responsibilities with each passing day, had arrived to finalise the names for a set of awards given by one of the party’s Trusts. He and Mr. Karunanidhi spent some time together finalising the names and informing the winners.

Soon after, Union Minister T.R.Baalu arrived to apprise the Chief Minister on some developments.

Asked, why he took on so much work even when in hospital, Mr.Karunanidhi said that he had to. “People have given me such a huge responsibility. Merely because I am confined to bed I cannot stop working for them.”

About the procedure that he was to undergo, the Chief Minister said that he had no apprehensions. “You are all there, no,” he said, smiling. So far, the only invasive procedure that he had undergone was for his eye.

A. Jaiswal, a specialist from Delhi, will perform the minimally invasive procedure on Wednesday to relieve the back pain, according to a government release. Dr. Jaiswal arrived at Sri Ramachandra University Hospital two days ago to prepare for the treatment.

A team of doctors, headed by the hospital’s chief of orthopaedics S.S.K. Marthandam, will be in attendance during the surgery.

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