Former DMK minister Veerapandi SArumugam passed away at a private hospital here today,following respiratory problems, hospital sources said. Arumugam (75) was admitted to the Sri Ramachandra MedicalCollege hospital here last Saturday for respiratory problemsand breathed his last this morning, they said.
The party strongman from Salem had been elected six timesto the Tamil Nadu Assembly and held several Ministerial postsduring the DMK regime.
A close confidante of party Chief M Karunanidhi, Arumugamhad joined DMK in 195. He was Salem district party secretaryand also a member of its Executive Committee.
Arumugam, who lost the Assembly polls in 2011 to AIADMK,was recently arrested by the Jayalalithaa government oncharges of land grabbing.
Condoling his death, the DMK said the party flag would flyat half mast and that all party functions have been postponedfor the next three days.
Meanwhile, CPM and CPI State General Secretaries GRamakrishnan and D Pandian in separate statements, condoledthe death of Arumugam. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee leader B S Gnanadesikancondoled his death, saying it was a "huge loss" to the DMK.
