J Anbazhagan, DMK MLA, dies of Covid-19 in Chennai

CHENNAI: DMK MLA J Anbazhagan died of Covid-19 while undergoing treatment in a hospital in Chennai on Wednesday (June 10), on his 62nd birthday.
The political leader was admitted to Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre at Chromepet on June 2.
The condition of Anbazhagan, who was fighting for his life with severe Covid-19 pneumonia, rapidly deteriorated on Tuesday morning, a bulletin issued by the hospital said. “In spite of full medical support, including mechanical ventilation, at our Covid- facility, he succumbed to his illness,” it said. He was declared dead at 8.055am.
Doctors said his condition remained critical throughout his stay. “He was on ventilator. At one point, he required lesser oxygen, and we thought he was responding well. But he had too many comorbidities,” said a doctor.
Anbazhagan represented the Chepauk constituency in Chennai in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
A three-time MLA, Anbazhagan was elected to the assembly in 2001, 2011 and 2016. He was elected from T Nagar constituency in Chennai in 2001 but moved to Chepauk in 2011 after being defeated in 2006.
A diehard party loyalist, Anbazhagan was also bold and was often referred as the second Veerapandi Arumugham (a senior leader and former DMK minister from Salem who died a few years ago) within the DMK.
Son of 'Pazhakadai' Jayaraman, an erstwhile DMK strongman from T Nagar, Anbazhagan was DMK Chennai West district secretary. He had dabbled in film distribution for sometime, especially some of the big films produced by Sun Pictures.
DMK president M K Stalin condoled the death of theparty MLA. “I am not able accept that Anbazhagan is not there.... How will I say my condolences to his family members,” Stalin said in a statement. The party announced a three-day mourning.
Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami also condoled Anbazhagan’s death. “It is very sad to know that DMK MLA J Anbazhagan has passed away. My condolences to his family members,” Palanisawmi tweeted.
With the death of Anbazhagan, there are three vacancies in the assembly. All these are due to the deaths of DMK MLAs. The two others are K P P Samy (Tiruvottiyur) and S Kathavarayan (Gudiyatham). As many as nine MLAs have died since the 15th assembly was formed in 2016. They include former chief ministers M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa.