The DMK MLA from Vikravandi constituency in Villupuram district, N. Pugazhenthi, 71, died following a brief illness. He swooned on stage during the public meeting and was rushed to the Govt Villupuram Medical College where he breathed his last, on April 6.
Mr. Pugazhenthi was the South district secretary of the DMK. He is survived by his wife, son and three daughters.
According to sources, Mr. Pugazhenthi was suffering from an ailment and was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai a few days ago, after he complained of health-related issues. He was discharged on Friday, April 5, and attended a public meeting addressed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at Vikravandi. However, his health condition worsened on Friday night, and he was then treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital where he breathed his last at at 10.35 a.m. on Saturday.
Hailing from Athiyur Thiruvadi near Sankarapuram, Mr. Pugazhenthi started his political career in 1973, and served in various positions in the DMK’s Villupuram district unit. He unsuccessfully contested the 2019 byelection to the Vikravandi assembly constituency and lost to AIADMK’s Muthamizhselvan by a margin of 44,924 votes.
In the 2021 Assembly elections however, Mr. Pugazhenthi wrested the seat from the AIADMK.
T.N. CM M.K. Stalin expresses condolences
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin condoled the death of Mr. Pugazhenthi. In a statement, he expressed shock and pain over the MLA’s death.
Despite his health issues, Mr. Pugazhenthi had been involved in election work to ensure the victory of DMK, Mr. Stalin said. “Mr. Pugazhenthi came to participate in my election campaign meeting on Friday (April 5) and complained of dizziness and was taken to the hospital. I had spoken to the doctors and asked them to take care of his health. We were hoping that he would recover and come back. But the news of his death has caused deep grief,” he said.
In 1973, Mr. Pugazhenthi joined the DMK as a branch secretary and started his political journey. Due to his hard work, he became a district secretary and a legislator, Mr. Stalin said.
“Whenever Mr. Pugazhenthi came to meet me, he came with a petition of people’s requests and got resolutions for them. He was an able supporter of DMK deputy general secretary K. Ponmudi,” Mr. Stalin said.
The DMK president said Mr. Pugazhenthi’s death was a great loss not only to the people of Vikravandi constituency and Villupuram district, but also for the DMK. “It is an irrevocable loss,” Mr. Stalin said and extended his condolences. to the late MLA’s family and friends as well as party cadres.
