Chennai: The DMK in the Tamilnadu Assembly is down by a number with the death of Vikravandi (Villupuram district) MLA K Rathamani.
According to reports, the MLA was undergoing treatment for cancer at JIPMER hospital in Puducherry. But he died without responding to the treatment.
Born in Kalinjikuppam village in Villupuram district and coming from an agricultural family, Rathamani holds a masters degree. He was one of the seniormost persons of the district in the party and held important district posts in the DMK.
A bachelor, he contested the Assembly elections in 2011 and was defeated, He contested the 2016 Assembly elections and won from Vikravandi.
He had been taking treatment for cancer in Chennai and returned home recently. This morning, his health condition turned for the worse and he was rushed to JIPMER, where he died.
While leaders of the DMK are sending out condolence messages to the family of Rathamani, party president M K Stalin is reportedly rushing to Puducherry to pay his last respects to the MLA.
With Rathamani’s death, the effective strength of the DMK in the Assembly has been brought down to 100.
By-election will have to be carried out for his seat and in Nanguneri, which seat MLA Vasanthakumar resigned after being elected to Parliament as MP. It is stated that the Vellore MP election may also be held at the same time. It was countermanded due to alleged large-scale distribution of money to voters.t