DMK President M Karunanidhi continues to be in the intensive care unit of Kauvery Hospital in Chennai after the 94-year-old was admitted around 1.30 am on Saturday following a drop in his blood pressure.

The hospital issued a statement late Sunday saying there was a “transient setback” in the condition of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister, but his vital signs were normalising.

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“There was a transient setback in the clinical condition of Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi, DMK President and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising . He continues to be closely monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors,” Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, the executive director of Kauvery Hospital, said in the statement.

pic.twitter.com/NskKHuMiDV

— KalaignarKarunanidhi (@kalaignar89) July 29, 2018

Earlier, there were reports that Karunanidhi was experiencing trouble breathing normally.

Meanwhile, with a large number of his supporters and followers pouring in outside the hospital and the BMP headquarters, security was increased at both places on Sunday.

Policemen who are on leave have been asked to rejoin duty and leave is being granted only in exceptional cases.

READ | PM Modi enquires about Karunanidhi’s health, offers assistance

According to television reports, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, who was in Salem on Sunday, has rushed back to Chennai cancelled all his events for the day. Family members of the DMK leader are also learnt to be at the hospital.

Doctors had earlier said Karunanidhi’s blood pressure had stabilised now but he was still under observation.

Earlier in the day, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu visited Karunanidhi at the hospital. “Visited Kauveri Hospital and met former Chief Minister Thiru Kalaignar Karunanidhi. Met his family members and doctors and enquired about his health. Doctors said he is stable. Wish him a speedy recovery,” he tweeted after the visit.

The DMK said in a statement Naidu was accompanied by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit. He also met Karunanidhi’s son and DMK leader MK Stalin.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, BJP leader Muralidhar Rao and the party’s Tamil Nadu unit party president Tamilisai Soundararajan also visited the hospital. “I came here on behalf of the TMC and Mamata Banerjee. I met M K Stalin and Kanimozhi and inquired about Karunanidhi’s health,” said Derek.

The DMK released a picture of the dignitaries visiting the ailing leader, and claimed his health was improving.

காவேரி மருத்துவனையில் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வரும் தலைவர் கலைஞர் அவர்களை இந்திய குடியரசு துணைத் தலைவர் மேதகு வெங்கைய்யா நாயுடு – தமிழக ஆளுநர் மாண்புமிகு பன்வாரிலால் புரோகித் ஆகியோர் நேரில் சந்தித்து தலைவர் கலைஞர் அவர்களின் உடல்நலம் குறித்து மருத்துவரிடம் கேட்டறிந்தனர் – Admin pic.twitter.com/dk4GzoYzUK

— KalaignarKarunanidhi (@kalaignar89) July 29, 2018

“His condition continues to be stable. The doctors are confident that he would recover and go home,” IANS quoted a party official who wished not to be named.

On Saturday night too, the hospital had said Karunanidhi’s condition was stable with active medical support.

DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan had said on Saturday Karunanidhi would be in the hospital for two more days.

For the past two years, Karunanidhi had been away from active politics owing to his health condition.

He was recently admitted to Kauvery Hospital for change of his tracheostomy tube.

(With agency inputs)