Hours after DMK president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi passed away on Tuesday, his son and political heir M K Stalin asked: “This one time, can I call you Appa?” In an emotional poem to his father, Stalin recounted how he addressed his father as ‘Thalaivare’ (leader) more than father. Karunanidhi died at Kauvery Hospital last evening, where he was admitted after his health deteriorated two weeks ago.