DMK’s 93-year old patriarch and party president M. Karunanidhi’s tracheostomy tube was replaced on Thursday by a small one; following this corrective surgery, the former chief-minister may start speaking now, 15 months after he lost the ability to speak.

Karunanidhi fell ill around the same time former chief-minister J. Jayalalithaa spent a mystery-filled 75 days at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai from 22nd September till 05th December when she was ‘declared dead’ by the Hospital.  Karunanidhi had been in and out of Hospital for the past more than one year and hasn’t been attending public events in view of his health.

The 93-year old veteran registered significant progress in his health a few months back.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit a few months back to Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence to call on him. After inquiring about the progress in the nonagenarian DMK leader’s health, the Prime Minister even offered to take Karunanidhi to his place in New Delhi to take care of his health.

During yesterday’s surgery, the tracheostomy tube was replaced with a smaller one which has given rise to the hopes that the Dravidian leader, known for his supreme oratorical skills, might start speaking soon!