Rebel AIADMK legislator, S V Shanmugham passes away

Madurai, Feb 6: Rebel AIADMK legislator, S V Shanmugham, representing Madurai West in the state assembly, died of cardiac arrest here.

He was 59 and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

According to family members, he was rushed to a private clinic after he complained of chest pain. Later, he was shifted to a corporate hospital where the end came late last night.

Elected to the Assembly in 2006, he openly defied the party leadership and turned out to be an ardent supporter of the Karunanidhi Government, both in and out of the House.

He was stripped of all organisational responsibilities in the AIADMK.

Ironically, his passing away coincided with the party general council meet held at Chennai for which he was not invited.

Starting his political career in the CPI, he joined the UCPI headed by Mohit Sen, along with current CPI Tamil Nadu Secretary Tha Pandian, when the party split. He returned to the CPI only to desert it during the 96 Assembly elections when he unsuccessfully contested from Thiruparankundram on the AIADMK ticket.

He had served as a legislator in 1991.

UNI