Former Information and Broadcasting Minister of Tamil Nadu Parithi Ilamvazhudhi passed away at a hospital in Chennai on Saturday morning. Parithi reportedly was taken to the hospital on Saturday morning after he complained of discomfort. He was 58.
Parithi Ilamvazhuthu started his political career at the age of 25 when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1984. From 1989 to 2011, he did not lose an election and was elected as the MLA from the Egmore constituency in Chennai in every election held in those years.
He was also the Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly between 1996 and 2001.
When the DMK was defeated by the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK in 1991, which marked her first term as Chief Minister, Parithi Ilamvazhudhi was the sole MLA apart from the DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, who retained their seats in the assembly.
He represented DMK in the Assembly after DMK leader M Karunanidhi resigned from his post as the MLA of the Harbour constituency.
He was once arrested in November 2003 for ‘committing a breach of privilege of the Assembly.’
Late DMK leader M Karunanidhi would often refer to him as ‘Indrajit’ or ‘Veera Abhimanyu’ for his work as the Opposition Member of the Legislative Assembly. He was also the former General Secretary of the DMK.
Parithi Ilamvazhudhi parted ways with the DMK after 30 years due to differences with the then treasurer MK Stalin. He joined the AIADMK in June 2013 and was made the Chief Executive Committee Member.
After J Jayalalithaa’s death, Parithi aligned himself with the O Panneerselvam camp of the AIADMK. He, however, was expelled from the party by OPS for alleged anti-party activities. He then later joined the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which was led by VK Sasikala’s nephew, TTV Dhinakaran. He was then made the organising secretary of the AMMK.