Ex-DMK minister Pulavar Senguttuvan dead at 80

TRICHY: Former DMK minister ‘Pulavar’ B M Senguttuvan, 80, passed away at his house in Velakurichi in Trichy on Friday, about two weeks after recovering from Covid-19. He developed breathing difficulties on Thursday and had to be taken to a private hospital. Though he returned after treatment, he died at his house in the morning. He is survived by his wife Chinnammal, 74, two sons and a daughter.
Senguttuvan had served as minister for Hindu religious and charitable endowment (HR&CE) and animal husbandry in the DMK government from 1996 to 2001 after being elected from the erstwhile Marungapuri constituency in Trichy in 1996. Though he and a few officials were accused of committing irregularities in a tender process, a DVAC court discharged them from the charges.
A seniormost leader, Senguttuvan held the post of DMK union secretary of Marungapuri seven times besides holding some local body posts. Fondly called Pulavar by former DMK president M Karunanidhi for his oratorical skills, he took part in several protests organised by DMK. He left the party and joined AIADMK in 2013 citing his ‘neglect’. Former CM J Jayalalithaa made him an executive committee member of the party, but he returned to DMK on February 25 this year. The funeral is scheduled to be held in his native village on Saturday.