Chennai, Aug 29 (UNI) The mortal remains of Congress MP from
and Founder of popular home appliances retail chain Vasanth
and Co H Vasanthkumar, who died of COVID-19 here last night,
was handed over to his family members on Saturday morning.
After following the due health protocoals, the embalmed body
of the Kanniyakumari MP was handed over to his family members
at 0700 hrs today.
Later, the ambulance carrying the body, wrapped in a thick
polythene cover and kept in a transparent box, was taken to
his Natesan Road residence in T.Nagar where it was kept for
public homage.
Scores of people, including the staff members of Vasanth & CO
and employees of Vasanth TV, the private Tamil Satellite channel
started by him, paid their last respects at his residence.
All traders in the vicinity of his residence downed their shutters
as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
Posters hailing his social services were also pasted near his
residence.
The body would be kept at his residence till 1030 hrs after which
it would be taken to the TNCC headquarters 'Sathyamurthy
Bhavan' where Congress leaders and members of various political
would pay their last respects to the departed soul.
At around 1400 hrs, Vasanthkumar's body would be taken to his
native Agastheeswaram village, near Kanniyakumari where it
would be kept for public homage after which it would be laid to
rest tomorrow morning.
The 70-year-old suave politician, who was a down to earth
person and always had the people's service in mind, was
the first sitting Member of Parliament to succumb to the
deadly coronavirus after he tested positive and admitted
to the Apollo hospital on August 10.
After battling for life for nearly 20 days, his condition
deteriorated over the last couple of days and he breathed
his last yesterday night.
Announcing his death, a bulletin issued by Apollo hospital
said he was treated in critical care unit by a team of doctors
for 'severe COVID pneumonia'.
'Despite all active medical measures his condition has
deteriorated gradually due to COVID-19 complications and
passed away', it said.
He is the first MP from TN to die of corona and the second
lawmaker after DMK MLA J Anbazhagan who succumbed
to the virus on June 10.
Born in a family with political background with his elder
brother being former TNCC President Kumari Ananthan, he
had earlier served as MLA of the State Assembly from
Nanguneri in 2006 and 2016.
He had resigned as MLA in 2019 after his election to the
Lok Sabha in 2019.
Founder of home appliances retail chain the popular Vasanth
and Co, Vasanthakumar was elected from Kanniyakumari seat
in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Vasanthakumar is also the Vice-President of TNCC and Chairman
of TNCC Traders Wing.
In the year 1978 he started the home appliances sales showroom
Vasanth & Co, which later grew into a popular retail chain with
outlets across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and neighbouring Puducherry.
After his successful business venture, he started the Tamil
Satellite channel Vasanth TV.
Meanwhile, his niece and Telangana Governor Ms Tamilisai
Soundararajan, who is the daughter of Vasanthakumar's elder
brother Kumari Ananthan, penned a heart-warming poem as a
mark of respect to the late Congress MP.
President Ramnath Kovid, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress former President
Rahul Gandhi, senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, TN
Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K
Palaniswami, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, Fisheries Minister
D Jayakumar, TNCC President K S Alagiri, alliance party
leaders including DMK President M K Stalin, MDMK Chief
Vaiko, and leaders cutting across party lines condoled
the death of Mr Vasanthakumar.
UNI GV 0800