Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) stalwart and the Lok Sabha MP from Erode, A Ganeshamurthi passed away at the age of 76 due to cardiac arrest. His demise occurred early morning on a Thursday, leaving the political community and his constituents in shock. The events leading up to his death began with Ganeshamurthi allegedly attempting to end his life by consuming pesticide, prompting an emergency hospitalization in Erode on March 24. After exhibiting signs of unease, he was initially taken to a private hospital in the city where his condition warranted ICU admission and ventilator support. Subsequently, he was transferred to a private hospital in nearby Coimbatore. Despite all efforts, Ganeshamurthi succumbed to his illness and was pronounced dead at 5.05 am.
The sad news brought numerous political figures to inquire about his health prior to his passing, including state minister S Muthusamy, BJP MLA Dr. C Saraswathy, and AIADMK leader K V Ramalingam. Ganeshamurthi’s political career was marked by his service as a three-time MP and substantial roles within the MDMK. Tensions within the party emerged concerning the allocation of tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, with Ganeshamurthi reportedly being discontented over the decision to not let him contest from Erode. Instead, the DMK put forth another candidate and designated the Tiruchy seat to the MDMK, nominating Durai Vaiko, the son of MDMK general secretary Vaiko, for the constituency. However, Vaiko refuted claims of Ganeshamurthi’s dissatisfaction with the decision and maintained that the latter had shown no indications of distress.
The sudden departure of Ganeshamurthi has been met with condolences and tributes from across the political spectrum. Congress leader Manickam Tagore expressed his condolences on social media, remarking on the fragile nature of life and extolling Ganeshamurthi’s dedication to public service. An MDMK spokesperson indicated that the leader’s health conditions were critical, as doctors had reportedly predicted the possibility of a dire outcome. His passing was also confirmed by a police officer speaking to NDTV. Amidst speculation of a suicide attempt, Ganeshamurthi is remembered not only for his political tenure but also as one of the leaders who were incarcerated under POTA alongside party founder Vaiko. The future of the party’s representation in the Lok Sabha elections has now become a poignant consideration with Vaiko’s son, Durai, being prepped for candidacy as part of an agreement with the DMK. Vaiko recounted the core team’s deliberation over choosing candidates for the elections, suggesting that there were plans to bestow Ganeshamurthi with a significant role within the party’s framework.