Kauvery Hospital on Sunday said that ailing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi’s “vital signs are normalising”, amid rumours that his health had deteriorated in the evening. Security has been increased outside the hospital as supporters continue to gather.

“There was a transient setback in the clinical condition of Kalaignar Dr M Karunanidhi,” the hospital said. “With active medical support, his vital signs are normalising. He continues to be closely monitored and treated by a panel of expert doctors.”

This comes hours after the party released photos of the veteran leader when Vice President Venkaiah Naidu visited him at the hospital. Naidu later said doctors told him that Karunanidhi’s condition was stable.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami met Karunanidhi in the hospital on Monday and said that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief is recovering.

The former Tamil Nadu chief minister was admitted to the hospital after his blood pressure dropped. He was being treated for age-related ailments and a urinary tract infection. He is 94 years old.

On Thursday, doctors treating the veteran leader said his health was on a “slight decline”. But on Saturday, the hospital said the veteran leader’s health condition was stable with “on going active medical support”. “He is continuously being monitored and treated by the panel of expert doctors in the Intensive Care Unit,” the hospital authorities said.

Karunanidhi has been weak since October 2016 when he underwent a procedure to change his tracheostomy tube as part of an attempt to improve his breathing.