Expressing grief over DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's death, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda today said he has lost his "elder brother."
The nation has lost a "stalwart", Gowda said in his condolence message, recalling his association with theformer Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for over five decades.
"Karunanidhi's role in me becoming the Prime Minister was huge," the former Prime Minister said, adding that his death is a "great loss" to the country and personally for him.
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said in Karunanidhi's death, "we have lost a unique personality" inIndian politics, and Tamil Nadu a "visionary leader".
Terming him a "legend", the chief minister said"Karunanidhi strived for the development of Tamil Nadu throughout his life and built a stronghold for regional party DMK."
"I had met him several times. Every time he made me understand the importance of regional parties.The popular schemes he implemented for the downtrodden people are replicated in various states today," Kumaraswamy added.
State BJP chief and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said a leader, whoserved Tamil Nadu as chief minister five times, Karunanidhi would always remain in the minds and hearts of thepeople.
Yeddyurappa recalled Karunanidhi's contribution in fostering the bond between people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu by installing Kannada poet and philosopher Sarvajna's statue in Chennai and unveiling Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar's statue in Bengaluru during his ChiefMinistership.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Chief Dinesh Gundu Rao also expressed grief.
"Express my deepest condolences on the demise of #KalaignarKarunanidhi. A towering personality in Tamil Nadu politics who also played a significant role at the national level. A true inheritor of the Dravidian movement.
TN politicswill never be the same again.
#RIP," he said in a tweet.
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