Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010659380700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Former MLA Seenivasan dead

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: P. Seenivasan, who defeated Congress stalwart K. Kamaraj in the 1967 Assembly elections, died in a private hospital here on Monday morning.

He was 71 and is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Mr. Seenivasan, who was a student leader in 1967, contested from the Virudhunagar constituency on the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ticket and won by a margin of 1,285 votes.

Born at Appaiya Naickerpatti near Srivilliputtur [now in Virudhunagar district], Mr Seenivasan had his education in Madurai and Madras. He took part in the anti-Hindi agitations in the 1960s and was arrested thrice.

He was again elected from Virudhunagar in 1971. Mr. Seenivasan later became the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.

In 1989, he won from Sivakasi.

On both occasions, he was in the DMK.

Mr. Seenivasan was in the Congress for a brief period. At the time of death, he was in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Condoling his death, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said he had been highlighting the weaknesses of the State government through his speeches.