Former TN Assembly Speaker Pandian dies

Chennai, January 4

AIADMK veteran PH Pandian died here on Saturday at a private hospital after being ill for some time, the party said. He was 74 and is survived by four sons, including former MP Paul Manoj Pandian, and a daughter.

Pandian was the first senior AIADMK functionary to publicly take a stand against former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s aide VK Sasikala after the death of the late party supremo in December 2016.

Raising suspicions over the circumstances surrounding the death of Jayalalithaa, he had thrown his weight behind O Panneerselvam.

AIADMK top leaders, including Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy Panneerselvam, condoled his death and expressed grief.

Palaniswami said, “As a Speaker, he had carved a niche for himself. His demise is a huge loss to the party…I express my deep condolences to his family.”

Pandian had held several party positions including that of organising secretary and was dedicated to the party since it was founded in 1972, the AIADMK said. — PTI