Chennai: Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R. Doraikkannu, died last night due to covid-19, at Kauvery Hospital said a senior official.
In a statement issued by kauvery hospital Executive Director Dr. Aravdindan Selvaraj “With deep grief, we announce the sad demise of the Honourable Minister for Agriculture, Thiru R.Doraikkannu on 31.10.2020 at 11.15 p.m.,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, Executive Director Dr.Aravindan Selvaraj had said Doraikkannu had suffered significant deterioration in vital functions and is vastly critical despite being on maximum life support.
The 72-year-old leader, elected from the Papanasam assembly constituency was admitted to the kauvery hospital on October 13 due to breathlessness and was tested covid positive.
Selvaraj had said earlier, “ Doraikkannu has multiple comorbidities and the latest CT scan shows 90 percent of lung involvement. He is currently on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Ventilator, receiving maximal support,”
On 13 October early morning, the minister was taken to a private hospital in Villupuram district after he complained about his chest pain and inhaling problem.
The agriculture minister said about his ill-health while he was traveling to Salem a city of Thirumanimuthar River to pay homage to Chief Minister K. Palaniswami’s mother who passed away on that day.
After his health conditions got stabilized at a government hospital then the minister was shifted to the private hospital in an ambulance.
The 72-year-old minister Doraikkannu also held the post of Secretary from Thanjavur (North) District of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.(AIADMK).
Doraikkannu set foot in Tamil Nadu Assembly in the year 2006 and was elected from the Papanasam seat and keep back the same in 2011 and 2016 elections.
Doraikkannu was first appointed as the Minister by J. Jayalalithaa’s late Chief Minister in 2016.
He is the second lawmaker who has died due to Covid-19. Earlier J. Anbazhagan, DMK lawmaker, appointed from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni Assembly Constituency passed away on 10, June 2020.
With the death of the Agriculture Minister, the number of vacancies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly has gone up to four.
In the month of February this year, DMK members K.P.P. Samy (Tiruvottiyur Assembly Constituency) and S. Kathavarayan, (Gudiyatham (SC) Assembly Constituency) had also passed away.
The present party position in the Tamil Nadu assembly is All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-124 members including the Speaker, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-97, Congress-7, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Independent – one each.
