Veteran politician and former DMK Minister 'Pulavar' Senguttuvan has passed away on Friday at the age of 80 due to post-Covid complications. Several party leaders had paid tribute to the departed soul and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased. 

Senguttuvan has breathed his last in his residence in Velakurichi in Trichy district. Earlier, he had tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection and he recovered from the pandemic two weeks ago. The former minister had developed breathing difficulties on Thursday post which he was rushed to a private hospital in Trichy. Though he returned home after a short treatment, he had breathed his last in the morning hours of Friday at the age of 80. 

According to reports, Senguttuvan had served as the minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment and animal husbandry in the DMK government under the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi from 1996 to 2001. He was elected to the assembly in 1996 from the Marungapuri constituency in Trichy. He was one of the notable DMK leaders in Trichy. 

Besides serving in the assembly and as the minister, Senguttuvan had held the post of DMK union secretary of Marungapuri seven times during the leadership of CN Annadurai and he also had held several local body posts. Senguttuvan was fondly called 'Pulavar' by late DMK President Karunanidhi for his oratorical skills and he had taken part in several protests organized by the party. Senguttuvan had gone to prison for one year under MISA and he also had been imprisoned for sixty times after taking part in the party's protests. 

He had a special place in Karunanidhi's circle. However, Senguttuvan had dissented against the DMK leadership and had joined ADMK in 2013. Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had appointed Senguttuvan as an executive committee member of the party. He then returned to DMK on February 25 this year. He joined the DMK by meeting MK Stalin in the presence of senior leaders including Durai Murugan, KN Nehru, and Kanimozhi. 

Senguttuvan was among the leaders accused of committing irregularities in a tender process, but the state's anti-corruption body had discharged the charges against him. The former minister had recently tested positive for the COVID-19 viral infection and he had recovered two weeks back. He had passed away on Friday. Several leaders of the party had paid tribute to the departed soul. Senguttuvan was survived by his wife Chinnamal, two sons, and a daughter. The last rites will be taking place in his hometown on Saturday.