Congress MP H Vasanthakumar dies of COVID-19 at a Chennai hospital: TN Cong Committee

22:41 August 28

Prez condoles death of Congress MP from Tamil Nadu

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday condoled the death of Lok Sabha MP H Vasanthakumar and said that his devotion to people's cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring.

"Sad to know the passing of Shri H Vasanthakumar, MP from Kanyakumari. An entrepreneur and social activist, he earned his name in the world of politics and business. His devotion to people's cause in Tamil Nadu was inspiring. Condolences to his family, friends and followers," Kovind tweeted.

Vasanthakumar, 70, Congress MP from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, was admitted to a hospital after contracting coronavirus.

The first-time MP, also a former MLA of two terms, was being treated at the Greams Road facility of the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.  

20:32 August 28

Congress leader Ahmed Patel expressed his condolences to the family, friends and loved ones the deceased leader.

20:28 August 28

Senior Congress leader and MP from Karnataka Jairam Ramesh expressed his condolences, calling H Vasanthakumar as the "staunchest of staunch congressmen".

20:28 August 28

Karnataka Congress in-charge KC Venugopal tweeted his condolences for the deceased leader.

20:27 August 28

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has said that all Congress workers including him are saddened by the demise of Shri Vasanthakumar. Chidambaram said that H. Vasanthakumar contributed immensely to the welfare of his constituents both as MLA and as MP.

20:27 August 28

PM condoles death of Congress MP from Tamil Nadu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the death of Lok Sabha MP H Vasanthakumar and said his strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy.

"Saddened by the demise of Lok Sabha MP Shri H. Vasanthakumar Ji. His strides in business and social service efforts were noteworthy. During my interactions with him, I always saw his passion towards Tamil Nadu's progress. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

Vasanthakumar, 70, Congress MP from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, was admitted to a hospital after contracting coronavirus.

The first time MP, also a former MLA of two terms, was being treated at the Greams Road facility of the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. 

20:21 August 28

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has expressed shock over the death of Congress MP H Vasanthakumar. The leader took to Twitter to condole the late leader's death.

20:18 August 28

Congress MP H Vasanthakumar dies of COVID-19 at a Chennai hospital: TN Cong Committee

H. Vasanthakumar, Congress MP from Kanyakumari, who was battling COVID-19 for about 3 weeks breathed his last on Friday. He was 70.

He's the first parliamentarian to succumb to the infection.

The MP from Kanniyakumari who was under treatment at Apollo Hospital on Greams Road Chennai, since August 10

The senior Congress leader is also the younger brother of veteran Congressman Kumari Anandan who has served as chief of TamilNadu Congress committee.

His niece is Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Vasanthakumar was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 2006 from Nanguneri. He got re-elected in 2016 from Nanguneri which he vacated following his election to the Lok Sabha in 2019. He drubbed his nearest rival and former union minister Pon Radhakrishnan to enter the Parliament.

He's been a member of the standing committee on chemicals and fertilizer and Consultative member of the committee on Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

From humble beginnings, his entrepreneurial skills took him to almost every household in Tamil Nadu through his novel retail home appliances showroom chain Vasanth & Co, which he launched in 1978.