Senior DMK MLA and party's Chennai west district secretary J Anbazhagan died on Wednesday morning, June 10 due to coronavirus.
The 62-year-old Anbazhagan undergoing treatment at the private hospital Dr.Rela Institute & Medical Centre here was in a critical condition. Anbazhagan is the first legislator to die for Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu. He was a three-time MLA and one of the stalwarts of DMK in Chennai.
According to the hospital, his condition improved and he was gradually weaned off the ventilator but since Tuesday, June 8 his condition started deteriorating.
According to sources, Anbazhagan's cardiac function started deteriorating, requiring medicine support for blood pressure. His existing chronic kidney disease was also worsening. His condition was critical.
First Tamil Nadu lawmaker to succumb to Covid-19
Anbazhagan is the first Tamil Nadu lawmaker to test positive for coronavirus. He represents the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni seat in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly. The lawmaker was admitted in the hospital on June 2 with acute respiratory distress syndrome and his Covid-19 PCR test returned positive at the time of admission.
"Initially, he was managed with oxygen therapy through a face mask and later on, he was put on ventilator support as his respiratory distress worsened," the hospital had earlier said.
Anbazhagan was first elected to the assembly in 2001 from the T.Nagar constituency and later from Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni seat in 2011 and 2016. The death of Anbazhagan has reduced the DMK's strength in the assembly to 97. In February this year, two DMK legislators KPP Samy (Tiruvottiyur constituency) and S. Kathavarayan (Gudiyatham constituency) passed away.
K Palaniswami, MK Stalin condole death
Chief Minister K.Palaniswami condoled the death of Anbazhagan. In a statement, DMK President M.K.Stalin said the heart fails to accept that party's hard worker Anbazhagan is dead. Stalin said as a mark of respect for Anbazhagan the party will follow three days of mourning and its flag will fly at half staff. He also said all party's function stands postponed.
