AIADMK MLA dies of heart attack

Ruling AIADMK Legislator R Kangaraj, representing Sulur in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, died of  heart attack on Thursday morning.

He was 63 and is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Kangaraj was reading newspaper at his residence, when he suffered a massive cardiac arrest and collapsed.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

His body was later taken to his residence where it was kept for the public to pay their homage.

AIADMK Coordinator and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Joint Coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and leaders of various political parties, including senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss condoled the death of Kanagaraj and expressed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.

Following the death of Kanagaraj, the number of vacant seats in the State Assembly went up to 22, though bye-elections would be held to fill up 18 seats on April 18 along with the polling for Lok Sabha elections.

The strength of the AIADMK too has come down to 114 in the 234-member Assembly.