Former Tamil Nadu legislator and senior politician Sivaraj has passed away in Chennai on Sunday at the age of 65 due to health-related ailments. Being a traditional Congress family, Sivaraj was elected to the state legislative assembly for four times from the same constituency. 

A native of Thirukoviloor in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, Sivaraj was a staunch supporter of the Congress party. He had served as the leader of the district unit of the party and he was elected to the assembly from Rishivandiyam constituency four times. Being one of the notable state leaders, he had observed close ties with GK Moopanar, who was the founder of the Tamil Maanila Congress. 

Sivaraj entered the assembly for the first time in 1984 as a member of the Indian National Congress whereas he was elected for the assembly from Rishivandiyam constituency for two consecutive times, in 1996 and 2001 respectively, as a member of Tamil Maanila Congress. Sivaraj then joined the Congress party and he was again elected to the assembly from the same constituency for the fourth time in 2006. 

His family was known for strongly cementing the base of the Congress party in the district and he again contested for the assembly from Rishivandiyam in the 2011 polls and he was one of the notable candidates who contested against DMDK's Vijayakanth in the polls. During his campaign, Sivaraj had caught major attention after he brought Rahul Gandhi in a chartered helicopter to his constituency for campaigning for his victory.

However, he met with defeat in the elections where Vijayakanth had won and became an MLA of Rishivandiyam constituency. Amid the defeat, he had been one of the powerful leaders of the Congress party in Villupuram district. Later, he developed a dissent against the national party and joined the ADMK party four years ago in the presence of then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. 

Following Jayalalithaa's demise, he had joined TTV Dhinakaran's party and he was serving as the party's leader in Villupuram district. Besides his political stint, Sivaraj had also been a businessman, which got him close to the people. Recently, he had developed health complications and he was getting treated at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai for his age-related ailments. However, his health had deteriorated and he had breathed his last on Sunday at around 7.30 pm at the age of 65. 

According to reports, Sivaraj wasn't contracted to the COVID-19 viral infection. His mortal remains would be brought to his native village of Thirukoviloor in Villupuram. It would be kept for paying homage and the last rites will be taking place on Monday. Sivaraj was surviving by his wife, a son, and a daughter.