Chennai: Former Union Minister Dalit Ezhilamalai passed away in Chennai today. According to sources, the 74-year-old died after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
“His body will be taken to his native village Irumbedu near Madhuranthakam in Chengalpattu district where the last rites will be performed later today,” sources said.
Ezhilamalai was a leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, and was Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare (Independent Charge) during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998–99.
He was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha from Chidambaram. He later joined AIADMK and was elected as an AIADMK MP from Tiruchirappalli (Lok Sabha constituency) in the 2001 bye-election.
He was born on 24 June 1945 in Chengalpet district. As an army officer he took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He was a recipient of the Sainik Seva Medal from the President for meritorious service in the Army.