Despite the doctors’ best efforts, he was declared dead at 7.30 AM. (Photo: X/ANI)
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Senthamangalam MLA K Ponnusamy passed away early Thursday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 74. His death has come as a big loss to the DMK and the people of Namakkal district.
According to reports, K Ponnusamy suffered a heart attack at his home in Karavalli village, Kolli Hills. Family members rushed him to the Kolli Hills Government Hospital for first aid. Later, he was shifted to a private hospital in Namakkal around 7 a.m.
Despite the doctors’ best efforts, he was declared dead at 7.30 a.m. The hospital confirmed that the cause of death was cardio-pulmonary arrest. Sources said he had suffered two heart attacks earlier and was under medical treatment for heart-related problems.
Born on May 8, 1951, in Karavalli village, Kolli Hills, Ponnusamy was known for his work towards tribal welfare and rural development. He dedicated his career to improving the lives of people living in remote hilly areas.
He contested four consecutive elections from the Senthamangalam (ST) constituency as a DMK candidate. He first won in 2006, lost in 2011 and 2016, and made a strong comeback in 2021. In the 2021 Assembly election, he defeated AIADMK’s S Chandran by a margin of 10,493 votes.
Over the years, he earned respect for his simple lifestyle, accessibility, and focus on grassroots development.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his deep sorrow over the demise of K Ponnusamy. He said the veteran leader worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people of Senthamangalam, especially tribal communities.
Stalin said, “His loss will be deeply felt by the DMK and the residents of the Kolli Hills region.”
He also offered condolences to Ponnusamy’s family, friends, and party colleagues, acknowledging his long-standing contribution as the Deputy Secretary of the DMK’s Namakkal East District.
Ponnusamy’s body was placed for public homage at Puliyangadu village in Nadukombai Panchayat, Senthamangalam constituency. Hundreds of people gathered to pay their last respects to their beloved leader.
Senior DMK leaders and government officials, including Minister of Adi Dravidar Welfare M Mathiventhan, Rajya Sabha MP K R N Rajeshkumar, Namakkal MP S Matheswaran, MLA P Ramalingam, District Collector Durga Moorthi, and Namakkal Mayor D Kalanithi, paid tribute.
His passing marks the end of an era for the Senthamangalam constituency, where he remained a strong voice for the hill and tribal communities.
