Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister E M Sudarsana Natchiappan died at his residence here on Thursday following a brief illness, the party said. He was 79.
Expressing grief over his demise, former Union Minister P Chidambaram said he had known Natchiappan since his days in the Youth Congress.
“Many praised his several facets as a vibrant youth, then a union president who served responsibly, a Member of Parliament who did not lose his party loyalty, and an outspoken Leader of the Opposition. “His long-standing contributions to politics and public life will forever be remembered. I extend my deepest condolences to his grieving family, friends, and the Congress party members.
Natchiappan became Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in 2013 and advocated reservation rights for backward and oppressed communities, he said.
I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to all the party comrades, his son and family, relatives and friends who are grieving his demise,” Chidambaram said in a post on X. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B Manickam Tagore said Natchiappan had served as the spokesperson of the state unit. He joined the Youth Congress under the leadership of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and worked with great dedication for the Congress party, Tagore said. Condoling his death, Tamil Nadu Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said Natchiappan’s passing was “deeply distressing”. I pray to the Almighty that his soul attains eternal peace,” Kumar said in a post on X.
