THANJAVUR : Former minister and DMK’s senior leader in the central region Ko Si Mani passed away at a private hospital in Kumbakonam on Friday. He was 87 and had been ailing for a while.
A native of Mekkirimangalam in Nagapppattinam, Mani settled in Aaduthurai near Kumbakonam and was a regular face during DMK regimes, holding portfolios of Local Administration and Cooperation, Agriculture.
He is credited with grooming party treasurer M K Stalin, who was an MLA then, to head the ministry of Local Administration. Of the five stints as MLA, Mani was elected four times from Kumbakonam and once from Aaduthurai. He was also a member of the erstwhile Legislative Council.
Mani was DMK’s district secretary of the composite Thanjavur district and also worked as the regional secretary. He was a member of the party’s policy making body till his demise.
Mani is survived by three sons and three daughters. His final rites would be conducted at Mekkirimangalam on Saturday.