Former Thousand Lights MLA Ku Ka Selvam passes away
Selvam switched loyalty from AIADMK to DMK in 1997. He fought under the DMK ticket at the Thousand Lights Constituency in 2016 Assembly election to become a legislator.
CM MK Stalin and his wife Durga Stalin pay homage to Selvam in Chennai on Wednesday
CHENNAI: Former DMK MLA Ku Ka Selvam died due to illness here on Wednesday.
The 70 year old Selvam breathed his last in a private hospital in Porur after he failed to respond to treatment.
Elected from Thousand Light constituency in the 2016 Assembly polls, Selvam was serving as the headquarters secretary of the ruling DMK at the time of his death. Once a loyalist of Chief Minister M K Stalin, Selvam also had a short stint with the BJP.
He broke ranks with the DMK leadership in August 2020 when he met BJP national president J P Nadda following differences with the party high command.
The meeting triggered his exit with the DMK high command suspending its sitting MLA's membership. Selvam formally joined the BJP in 2021.
However, his run with the saffron party lasted only a year. He returned to the DMK in February 2022 months later, ostensibly, after the BJP overlooked him and awarded the Thousand Lights MLA ticket desired by him to actor Khushbu Sundar who eventually lost to DMK's Dr Ezhilan Naganathan in April-May 2021 Assembly election.
Selvam was awarded headquarters secretary post upon his return to the parent party. Interestingly, Selvam also had a run in the AIADMK before he switched loyalty to the DMK in 1997.
In his condolence message, chief minister M K Stalin described Selvam's demise as an "irreparable personal loss" for him and said that the news of Selvam's death struck him like a thunder.
His speech might be a little difficult for many to comprehend, but his white heart would be sweet for everyone socializing with him.
Calling him a warrior dedicated to the party and who developed the party in various capacities, Stalin said that Selvam committed himself to the DMK after the demise of MGR and flourished as one of the brothers of Kalaignar since then.
Recalling the manner in which Selvam accompanied him during his tours to districts away from Chennai, the CM said that though Selvam digressed briefly in the recent times, he returned to the party, which was well known to people who socialized with him.
State BJP president also condoled the demise of his former party colleague.