Defence Minister George Fernandes visited the ailing Union Minister Murasoli Maran at Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Thursday evening.

During his visit lasting over 30 minutes, Fernandes discussed Maran's health condition with senior doctors of the Apollo Hospitals and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president and Maran's uncle M Karunanidhi.

He also met family members of the ailing minister. Union Minister of state for health and family planning A Raja was also present in the hospital.

Talking to reporters after Fernandes left the hospital, Karunanidhi, in response to a query about the minister's condition, said, "It is the same."

Karunanidhi replied in the negative when asked whether Fernandes had brought any message for him from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.