CHENNAI: Sitting Congress MLA from Srivaikuntam constituency, D Selvaraj died here on Sunday night following a massive cardiac arrest. He was 59. He is survived by his wife Nalini, two sons and a daughter.
In the State Assembly, Speaker R Avudaiappan read out a resolution recalling the services of the Congress member and condoled his sudden demise. Members of the House observed two minutes of silence and the Speaker adjourned the House without transacting any business on Monday as a mark of respect to the late member.
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, other State ministers and Congress MLAs and party cadre paid homage to the mortal remains of Selvaraj at his residence in T Nagar. The last rites for Selvaraj would be held on Tuesday.
Selvaraj is the founder of King’s Engineering College, Oorvasi Soap company, Queensland Theme Park and Hotel Pleasant Days. He hailed from a traditional Congress family in Maranthalai village in Tuticorin district and he was elected to the State Assembly from the Srivaikuntam constituency in 2006.
Family members of Selvaraj said he suffered cardiac arrest when he was preparing notes for speaking in the discussion on the demands for grants for the Registration, Tourism Information and other departments scheduled for Monday. He was taken to Apollo hospital. But the doctors declared that he was brought dead.
Vacancies in Assembly go up to 5: With the death of Selvaraj, the number of vacancies in the State Assembly has gone up to five. Already, four constituencies — Cumbum, Thondamuthur, Ilayankudi and Bargur are vacant. As such, by-elections in all the five constituencies are expected to be held simultaneously after a couple of months.
The strength of Congress in the House has come down from 35 to 34.
As of now, the strength of political parties in Tamil Nadu Assembly is: DMK-95, AIADMK-59, Congress-34, PMK-18, CPM-9, CPI-6, MDMK-3, VCK –2, DMDK-1, Independent – 1, Speaker – 1 and vacant – 5.
