Draped in a party flag, the deceased leader was also kept at Kamaraj Memorial Hall in Teynampet for the public and senior congress party workers to pay their tributes. Pudhucherry Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy, TNCC president KS Alagiri and members of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu also paid their tributes.

Vasanthakumar will be laid to rest at his native place Agatheeswaram in Kanniyakumari district on Sunday.

As a token of respect, several traders downed their shutters in T Nagar and Teynampet areas. Sea of humanity and emotions poured out for the deceased leader.

According to informed sources, more than 50,000 people in Chennai paid their respects at Kamarajar Arangam along with party workers as the staff of Vasanth and Co, Vasanth TV and traders gathered in large numbers to bid adieu.

We wanted to keep the departed leader in Sathyamurthy Bhavan for the cadres to pay homage but the family members have planned the funeral in the native district. Due to time constraint and request, we gave up the idea,” TNCC president KS Alagiri told reporters.

“It is a great loss for the traders in Chennai as Annachi (Vasantha Kumar) was always great support and guidance for the traders. He generated employment and always helped others,” Vikrama Raja, president, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu said after paying homage.

“The regular practice of performing the ritual with a few relatives was not possible for Vasantha Kumar as the crowd gathered in large numbers and according to the latest report taken in the hospital, the swab tests of Vasanthakumar showed signs of corona negative. But it was the severe lung infection that led to the death,” said an informed state official adding that the district administration in Kanniyakumari and the municipal officials in Nanguneri have been instructed to control the crowd and ensure social distancing.

“There is a need to revise the covid body handling protocol as it is an emotional matter when leaders and celebrities die. In this case, it was an emotional failure of covid protocol prescribed for funeral gatherings,” admitted a senior official adding that the public should adhere to the social distancing norms while paying homage.

Scores of people, cadres of political parties and traders across Kanniyakumari mourned the death of the dynamic Congress politician.

A pall of gloom descended at Agastheeswaram, his native place in the district. Many shops remain closed as traders mourn the death of Vasanthakumar.

According to R. Rathakrishnan, Congress president, Kanniyakumari District (East), Vasanthakumar’s demise was a shock not only to his party but many people who had no idea he had been so ill. Many could not believe he was dead since he remained active throughout his political career.

Recalling significant parts of his life and career, he said Vasanthakumar made a tremendous achievement not only in the field of politics, but also in trade and also used to help the needy at the right times. Unmindful of his health risk during this COVID-19 pandemic, he reached out to the public and provided relief assistance to those affected.

Cadres of the Congress party and its ally took out a silent procession mourning his death. Suresh Rajan, Nagercoil MLA, J.G Prince, Colachel MLA, S. Austin, Kanyakumari MLA, T. Mano Thangaraj, Padmanabhapuram MLA and cadres form the Left parties took part in the procession, sources said.

M. Chockalingam, state vice president of Janata Dal (S), said Vasanthakumar was a down to earth man with great talent.

Vasanthakumar was also a strong follower of K. Kamaraj, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and through this television channel, song is played eulogizing the late Kamaraj on a programme titled ‘Thenaruvi’ daily, he recalled.