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The United Progressive Alliance chairperson -- who was accompanied by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala and the director general of Border Security Force Raman Srivastava -- placed a wreath and paid her respects to Karunakaran, who passed away at a private hospital in Thursday after a prolonged illness. Gandhi spoke to Karunakaran's son K Muraleedharan and daughter Padmaja Venugopal and conveyed her condolences.
Former chief minister of Kerala and leader of the opposition in the state legislature assembly Oomen Chandy, while speaking to rediff.com, said. "Karunakaran is one of greatest national leaders in Indian politics. His departure is a major loss not only to the Congress party but also to the whole nation. I pay my last respects to him."
The body of Karunakaran is kept at KPCC headquarters Indira Bhavan for the public to pay respects to the stalwart who has left his own political legacy in the state as his career spanned over seven decades. Later, his body would be kept at the government secretariat Dubar Hall before the funeral procession starts for Pookunnam in Thrissur, where it would be cremated with full state honours on Saturday. Karunakaran 's wife was also cremated there.
Thousands of people thronged Indira Bhavan to get a last glimpse of the leader. The police and Congress volunteers had a
tough time controlling the crowds which had gathered at the KPCC headquarters from all across the state.