BJP leader Sukumaran Nambiar passes away

The cremation will be held tomorrow which is likely to be attended by party president Nitin Gadkari and other senior leaders including M Venkaiah Naidu,BJP state unit president Pon.Radhakrishnan said.

Sukumaran,son of legendary actor the late M N Nambiar,was perceived to have enjoyed good relations with both L K Advani and Jayalalithaa. He is also believed to have played a key role in firming up the alliance between his party and AIADMK in 1998 and 2004.

He,however,failed to make it to the Lok Sabha in the 2004 elections from North Chennai.

Condoling his death,Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said,”His death is indeed a great loss to the Bharatiya Janata Party. In his passing away,we have lost a true patriot and a person who untiringly served society.”

He was an expert in several martial arts with a black belt in Karate,she said,adding he had also trained Indian Army personnel in the martial arts.

“Like his father,Nambiar evinced keen interest in spiritualism and was the President of the All India Ayyappa Seva Sangam,” Jayalalithaa said in a statement.

In his condolence message,Radhakrishnan said despite being from an affluent family,the late leader used to “move closely with party workers”.

Party flags in the state will fly half-mast for the next three days in respect of the departed,he said,adding,a three-day mourning will also be observed.