Senior CPI(M) leader Varadarajan passes away

CHENNAI: Senior CPI(M) leader and former Central Committee member N Varadarajan died at a private hospital here today after a prolonged illness.

Varadarajan, 87, is survived by his wife and two sons. A three-time MLA, Varadarajan, who was not keeping well for the past two to three years, had attended the party's 20th Congress in Kozhikode which concluded yesterday. This morning he complained of uneasiness and was admitted to a private hospital here, where he breathed his last, party sources said.

CPM State unit Secretary G Ramakrishnan expressed grief over Varadarajan's demise and said his death was an "irreparable loss".

His body was kept at the party's T Nagar office for people to pay their respects. It will be taken to his hometown Dindigul where the last rites would be performed tomorrow, the party said in a release.

The party flag would be flown at half-mast for the next three days as a mark of respect to the departed leader, it said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, DMK chief M Karunanidhi and leaders of several other political parties have condoled the death of the Marxist veteran.