TN minister dead

Tamil Nadu Commercial Taxes Minister V Thagapandyan died at a hospital in Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district on Thursday evening following a massive heart attack.

He was 64 and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Official sources in Madurai said the minister complained of chest pain after visiting Muthusamiapuram, where former panchayat president and a Dravida Munnetra Kazagham functionary was killed in a bomb attack three days ago.

He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

A teacher by profession hailing from Mallankinaru near Virudhunagar, Thangapandyan had been a member of the now-defunct Tamil Nadu legislative council for 12 years from 1968. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly in 1989 and later in 1996.

He has been a district secretary of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since 1974.

Governor Fathima Beevi expressed shock over the death of Thangapandyan.

Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi condoled the death of the minister.

UNI