1958-2020: Bold voice of DMK cadre goes silent
In the death of its district secretary J Anbazhagan, the DMK has lost one of its honest critics. The 62-year-old MLA was the voice of the nondescript cadre, who likes to call out even the leadership, when it erred. Yes, Anbazhagan was loyal, but outspoken.
migrator
Chennai
Even his last meeting to discuss “Ondrinaivom Vaa” campaign was testimony to his plain-speaking. Anbazhagan had cared to criticise DMK president MK Stalin’s decision to engage I-PAC for the 2021 Assembly polls.
His face-off with former minister K Ponmudi at the Secretariat months ago was demonstrative of his self-pride. His behaviour was no different inside the House either –uncompromising.
The Chepauk MLA had an uncanny knack of getting on the nerves of the treasury benches. At times it had landed him in trouble too, as it did in January last when the Speaker briefly suspended him for tearing the copy of the Governor’s speech. No wonder Stalin had likened Anbu’s Assembly speeches to the roar of a lion.
“Anbazhagan is the kind of functionary every party likes to have. A functionary who does not hesitate to call out the wrong moves of the leadership. Most leaders don’t like to take instructions from I-PAC, but no one had the guts to say it to Stalin’s face. He did it… He placed party above individuals,” remarked a DMK senior leader.
Unsurprisingly, his authoritative and frank dealings have never offended the leadership. That former DMK chief M Karunanidhi had hit the streets in his 70s to protest the arrest of Anbazhagan earlier should suffice to understand his rapport with the leadership. Indeed, it must be owed to his father ‘pazhakadai’ (fruit shop) Jayaraman’s early association with the party.
His father ‘pazhakadai’ (fruit shop) Jayaraman went to the prison with Stalin and ‘Murasoli’ Maran under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) during the emergency.
His debate with Jaya in House, a proof of his courage, says Nehru
“He speaks from his heart and puts forth his points boldly in the Assembly,” said DMK principal secretary KN Nehru here on Wednesday.
Nehru led the condolence meeting organised for MLA J Anbazhagan, who lost his life to COVID-19 by the Tiruchy DMK. Office-bearers and cadre gathered at the Kalaignar Arivalayam and paid floral tribute to the portrait of the late MLA. Subsequently, they observed silence for two minutes.
Calling Anbazhagan open-minded person, Nehru said, “He used to put forth his point boldly on the Assembly floor and never stood against his point at any time.”
Nehru recalled how Anbazhagan used to strongly put across his points even during the late J Jayalalithaa’s rule on the floor of the Assembly and how he continued this attitude even during Edappadi K Palaniswami’s tenure. “Though there were cases against him, he was never scared and thus he won the hearts of the party leaders,” Nehru said.
Stating that Anbazhagan was from a family with DMK background, Nehru said, “His sudden demise is not only a loss for the family but also to the DMK and there is no word to console ourselves.”
Nehru also recalled the deceased MLA’s close association with party president MK Stalin and the late president M Karunanidhi and how his entire family was closely interwoven with the party.
The party flag was flown at half-mast at Kalaignar Arivalayam in Tiruchy following the mourning announcement.
Tweets showcased his versatility, diverse interests
If there was a face for versatility in contemporary State politics, it was J Anbazhagan. The politician had time for cricket, astronomy, foreign affairs, cinema; you name it, almost everything and that too a regular.
A simple glance at his Twitter handle should suffice to how he kept abreast with latest developments. @Janbazhagan, the verified Twitter user with 1.57 lakh followers was something similar to a rock star for his followers. Even a few hours before hospitalisation on June 2, Anbazhagan had posted on the eve of former DMK chief M Karunanidhi the “architect of Tamil Nadu” tweet. A few days prior to that, Anbazhagan had time to retweet a video of NASA astronauts in SpaceX craft of Elon Musk docking with ISS. The politician in T Nagar had celebrated the #blacklivesmatter protesters too. Needless to say, the ‘liberal’ DMK district secretary had also relished ridiculing the goof up of US President Donald Trump.
His cricket obsession is no news to Twitterati who are used to his short video clips, mostly of CSK. His association with cinema may be news to many. He even produced two movies, Aadhi Bhagavan and Yaaruda Mahesh.
In the erstwhile AIADMK regime Anbazhagan had offered to release Vijay starrer ‘Thalaiva,’ in 300 theatres braving then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The man who underwent liver transplant at 37 he would have lived to tell a different tale himself, if he had exercised a little more caution during the torrid times of COVID-19.
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