J Anbazhagan, a powerful leader of the DMK, dies of Covid-19

A statement by the hospital Wednesday read: “Anbazhagan, who has been fighting for his life with severe Covid-19 pneumonia rapidly deteriorated early this morning. In spite of full medical support including mechanical ventilation at our Covid facility, he succumbed to his illness.”

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Last Friday, DMK chief M K Stalin and state health minister C Vijayabaskar had visited Anbazhagan.

Anbazhagan took part in Covid-19 relief work until the last week of May.

Representing the Chepauk-Triplicane Assembly constituency, Anbazhagan actively took part in relief work during the lockdown period. What made his health condition challenging was a liver transplant he had about 15 years ago.

Hailing from a traditional DMK family, Anbazhagan’s father Jayaraman was also a DMK worker. Few days ago, Stalin recalled how Jayaraman had taken part in protests during Emergency and had been arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). “Anbazhagan did more than what his father had done for the party,” Stalin said.

Anbazhagan hailed from a traditional DMK family.

If Jayaraman was the pet of late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, Anbazhagan was the close aide of both Karunanidhi and his son, Stalin. He was known for his key role in running the party in Chennai, and also organised almost all the massive events and protests for DMK in the city over the last two decades.

இடியும் மின்னலும் ஒருசேர இறங்கியது!

மக்கள் பணியில் அர்ப்பணித்துக்கொண்டு, தியாக தீபமாக சுடர்விட்டொளிரும் சகோதரர் @JAnbazhagan ஐ எப்படி மறப்பேன்? நானே தேம்பி அழும் நிலையில், அன்புவின் குடும்பத்தார்க்கும், உடன்பிறப்புகளுக்கும் எப்படி ஆறுதல் சொல்வேன்? இனி எப்போது பாச முகம் காண்பேன்?

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 10, 2020

“Anbazhagan was an authority in sports, he himself was a sportsman. Kalaignar (late Karunanidhi) used to insist on Anbazhagan’s company whenever he found time to watch IPL cricket matches. He was a fiery speaker, and remained active during Assembly proceedings in his three terms,” a source close to Stalin said.

Anbazhagan with the late Karunanidhi. (Twitter/@KanimozhiDMK)

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami expressed his deep grief over the death of Anbazhagan.

????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????? ????????? ????.??.???????? ??????? ????? ???????? ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????????????????. ???????? ???????????????????? ???? ??????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???????????? ??????????.

— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) June 10, 2020

Anbazhagan is survived by his wife and two children.