Ex-TNCC chief Elangovan dies in Chennai at 75

FORMER Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president and Erode (East) MLA E V K S Elangovan passed away at the age of 75 at a private hospital in Chennai on Saturday.

- T MURUGANANDHAM & S KUMARESAN

Elangovan was undergoing treatment at the hospital for nearly a month for respiratory illness.

Elangovan, a grandnephew of Dravidian ideologue Periyar E V Ramasamy, served as a union minister between 2004 and 2009, holding the portfolios of petroleum and natural gas, commerce and industry, and textiles. Elangovan's body is kept at his Manapakkam residence for public to pay homage and the final rites will be held at 4pm on Sunday at a crematorium in Mugalivakkam.

CMMK Stalin in his condolence message, said, "Elangovan served in various capacities as the TNCC president, MLA, MP and union minister. He always had the quality to speak his mind. His demise is deeply painful to me both politically and personally." AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, former CM O Panneerselvam, and several other leaders condoled his demise. State Congress chief Selvaperunthagai said the TNCC party flag will be flown at half-mast across Tamil Nadu as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Elangovan is survived by his wife Varalakshmi Elangovan and son Sanjay Sampath.

With Elangovan's demise, the Congress's strength in the Tamil Nadu Assembly has come down from 18 to 17.