Jaya expresses shock over death of party workers

Chennai, May 15 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today expressed shock and anguish as seven more party workers lost their lives following the defeat of AIADMK in the May eight Assembly elections, taking the toll to 21.

In a statement here, she said till yesterday, 14 people had died of shock or by committing suicide and she was distressed to note that seven more people have died as they could not bear the party's defeat.

While M Subramanian, a party functionary in Tiruvarur district ended his life by consuming poison, S Panneerselvam and K Adiyan Karuppan of Sivaganga district, died of hear attack, she said.

Similarly, Marimuthu, M Palanisamy of Namakkal district, Jothivel of Salem district and Piorajan of Vellore district also died of heart attack, Ms Jayalalithaa said adding that she was immensely pained to learn such deaths.

Conveying her condolences to the families of the seven people, Ms Jayalalithaa announced a family welfare fund of Rs one lakh each to the families on behalf of the party.

She appealed to the people not to lose hope as winning and losing in an election was routine. As long as she remained at the helm of affairs in the party, no one need to worry, she added.

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