DMK MLA Kathavarayan dead, Governor condoles

Kathavarayan, who was elected from Gudiyattam (Reserved) constituency in Vellore district to the State Assembly during the bypolls held last year to fill up 18 vacancies caused by the disqualification of rebel AIADMK MLAs, was admitted to the Chennai hospital for heart ailment. He breathed his last there on Friday morning, DMK sources said.

Kathavarayan’s body was brought to his native town of Pernambut in Vellore district around 3.40 pm the same day. Governor Banwarilal Purohit condoled the death of the sitting Gudiyattam Assembly constituency MLA. “The sad demise of Kathavarayan, member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly fills me with shock and grief,” the Governor said in a statement.

Mentioning him being elected as legislator in April 2019, the Governor said, “His (Kathavarayan’s) demise is an irreparable loss to the people of Gudiyatam in Vellore district.”

“I convey my deep condolences to the bereaved family members and pray to the almighty God to rest his soul in peace and give strength to his family to overcome this unfathomable loss,” Governor Purohit further said. DMK president M K Stalin also condoled Kathavarayan’s death and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

While Stalin is expected to arrive at Kathavarayan’s residence and pay his respects on Saturday, one of the first VIPs to do so was Commercial Taxes Minister KC Veeramani who arrived there on Friday.

A former Pernambut municipal chairman, Kathavarayan rose up in the party ranks before he won the Gudiyattam reserved seat, defeating the rival AIADMK candidate in the bypolls last year.

Kathavarayan was the second sitting DMK MLA to breathe his last after former Minister and sitting member KPP Samy passed away on Thursday. With Kathavarayan’s passing, the strength of the DMK in the 234-member Assembly has come down to 98.