Erode MP dies in hosp 4 days after suicide bid
COIMBATORE: Erode MP A Ganeshamurthi, 77, who attempted suicide by consuming pesticide, died at a private hospital in Coimbatore on Thursday.
He was found by his family members in an unconscious state at his residence in Periyar Nagar on March 24 and rushed to a private hospital in Erode. He was later shifted to a private hospital in Coimbatore, where he underwent treatment in a critical condition. He breathed his last around 5.05 am.
Tracing his illustrious past, Ganeshamurthi became DMK’s student wing coordinator and later the party’s district secretary in 1984. He was elected as an MLA from Modakurichi in 1989.
When Vaiko left DMK in 1993, Ganeshamurthi joined him. He was elected on an MDMK ticket from Palani Lok Sabha constituency in 1998.
In 2002, he was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act, 1998 (POTA) for supporting the banned LTTE and served a jail term of 18 months. In 2009 and 2019, he became an MP from Erode constituency by contesting on MDMK and DMK symbols.
Ganeshamurthi had spearheaded several protests for the cause of farmers. His wife Balamani passed away a few years ago, and Ganeshamurthi is survived by his son and daughter, both married.
The body was taken to Government Erode MCH, where a post-mortem was done and handed over to his family members. His body was cremated after a public homage in his native village of Kumaravalasu in Chennimalai. Earlier, MDMK founder leader Vaiko paid his tributes at the hospital. The Erode Town police have registered a case of suicide.