Veerapandi A Raja, ex-MLA, dies on b’day; CM condoles
Former MLA and DMK election wing secretary Veerapandi A Raja died due to heart attack in his native Salem on Saturday.
Raja, who is the younger son of former DMK heavyweight ‘Veerapandi’ S Arumugam, is said to have fainted on his way to a function this morning.
He was declared as “brought dead” in a private hospital he was taken to.
Coincidentally, Saturday also happened to be the birthday of the former DMK district in charge for whom his family and local party men had made elaborate celebration arrangements.
Chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin, who was in Madurai to participate in the gram sabha meeting in Pappapatti village panchayat, visited Salem and offered his condolences. Accompanied by his cabinet colleagues KN Nehru and K Ponmudi, Stalin paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of Raja at the latter’s native in Poolavari near Salem.
Earlier, in his condolence message, Stalin described Raja as a very warm person who attracted people through his benevolence and said that he will live in the hearts of the party cadre. Recalling his interaction with Raja during an official visit to Salem a few days ago, the CM said, “Raja is an able functionary who accomplished every task given to him.”
Referring to Raja’s stint as party district secretary and MLA, the CM said, “We lost Chezhian (Raja’s elder brother) at a very young age. Kalaignar broke down outside the hospital during the demise of Veerapandiyar. Now, Veerapandi Raja. How can I console Veerapandiyar’s family? How will I console myself? Death of people like Veerapandi Raja is not an individual’s death. It is the fall of a pillar.”
“His fame will last forever. He will live in the hearts of party cadre,” Stalin added.