Chennai:Senior Congress leader and MLA EVKS Elangovan was declared dead by a private hospital here at the state capital, on Saturday. He was 75. He was admitted to a private hospital here for nearly a month. The hospital administration revealed that he passed away at 10.12 am.
A medical bulletin published by the hospital said Elangovan was admitted last month for treatment. Dr. Prithvi Mohandas, Managing Director of MIOT International, in the bulletin said, the hospital's medical team made their best efforts to treat him. "Despite that, he passed away on Dec. 14," the doctor said.
His father EVK Sampath, one of the “big five” that formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) and grandnephew of Periyar EV Ramasamy. Sampath broke away from Periyar's Dravidar Kazhagam to found DMK and later quit it to join Congress.
The former Union Minister was a classmate of former Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, at Church Park Convent(now a girls only institution).
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge shared their condolence messages in social media.
"Saddened by the passing of Thiru EVKS Elangovan, former Union Minister and former TNPCC President. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. A fearless and principled leader, he was a staunch advocate for the Congress Party’s values and Thanthai Periyar's ideals. His dedicated service to Tamil Nadu will forever remain an inspiration," he wrote in X.
Kharge remembered the deceased as a "candid and courageous" leader. "A candid and courageous leader, he was a consensus builder. He devoted his entire life to upholding the progressive ideals and principles of the Congress Party and Thanthai Periyar, serving the people of Tamil Nadu with steadfast dedication and commitment. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and followers."
Actor and founder of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam(TVK) Vijay condoled the demise of the senior Congress leader and sent out a condolence message to the party cadres and the bereaved family, saying that he was "deeply saddened".