The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee’s former president Erode Venkata Krishnasamy Sampath (EVKS) Elangovan was laid to rest in Chennai on Sunday, December 15. The funeral was held with full state honours at a crematorium at Mugalivakkam in Chennai. He passed away aged 75 on December 14 after nearly a month in hospital.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai, Congress’ Karur MP Jothimani, and state Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian were among the senior leaders who accompanied the funeral procession. The final rites before the cremation were conducted at EVKS’ home in Chennai’s Mannapakam, where senior politicians came to pay their last respects.
The late Congress leader has served as the MLA for the Erode East Assembly constituency. He was the son of one of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) first ever parliamentarians EVK Sampath, who was the nephew of Dravidian icon and social reformer Periyar.
Offering his condolences, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “The passing away of Elangovan is a huge loss to the state of Tamil Nadu. He was a firebrand and courageous leader who served the people of Tamil Nadu with steadfast dedication and commitment.”
Kharge added that EVKS “devoted his entire life to upholding the progressive ideals and principles of the Congress. He was a consensus builder who helped build a strong relationship with our alliance partners in the state. He was always ready to put the party before himself and stood by the party during its difficult times. The loss will be felt by all the workers of the Congress party.”
Speaking at the funeral, Selvaperunthagai said “[EVKS] spoke his mind, whether in politics, or while at home, or among his friends. His death is a loss to the Congress, our allies, and the people of Tamil Nadu. Even though we are younger than him, he was the only one we could speak our hearts to as a friend and comrade.”
Chief Minister MK Stalin said, on the day of EVKS’ passing, “He belonged to a long political lineage. His death is a huge loss to Tamil Nadu politics. With a heavy heart, I bid a final farewell to my friend.” The CM was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who also offered his condolences.
DMK deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi, who spoke to the press after paying her respects, said, “He always spoke his mind bravely, without fear or hesitation. Similarly, he never betrayed his ideologies for anyone.”
“He spoke to me over the phone a week before he was admitted in hospital,” Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president and Chidambaram MP Thol Thirumavalavan told media persons outside EVKS’ home. “He praised me from his heart and advised me to follow in the footsteps of Periyar.”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) president Seeman also paid their respects to EVKS. Annamalai said, “Even though there were ideological differences between us, he was someone who worked hard for the growth of Tamil Nadu and its people. His death is a loss to all, both to Erode and to the Congress party.”
Other political leaders who paid their last respects include Congress’ Sivagangai MP Karti Chidambaram, Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) president GK Vasan, senior DMK leader RS Bharathi, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) president Premalatha Vijyakant, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker Appavu.