Granddaughter of social reformer Periyar, whose father was one of the founders of the DMK and mother an active AIADMK leader, and who herself led the Congress in Tamil Nadu. EVKS Elangovan passed away Saturday in Chennai. Elangovan was 73 years old and had been hospitalized since the second week of November.
In a state known for the titles given to its leaders, with M Karunanidhi known as ‘Kalaignar’ and J Jayalalithaa as ‘Thalaivi’, Elangovan was called ‘Thanamana Thalaivar’, meaning a self-respecting leader.
If politics ran in his blood, Elangovan made other passions his own, such as motor racing, even competing in the Cholavaram races in 1972 and 1973. He was also a close friend of Span Shivji Ganesan, who helped him get his first ticket for the Assembly. Elector, though their paths diverged later, and was a classmate of late AIADMK leader and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. State.
Elangovan was also known for his bluntness, which resulted in him often getting into controversies. At the same time, he is credited with bringing together several factions of the Tamil Nadu Congress.
He first entered politics when he was studying economics at Presidency College in Chennai, becoming secretary of the Student Congress in 1967.
Elangovan’s father EVK Sampath, a founding member of the DMK born out of Periyar’s movement, also joined the Congress. But his mother Sulochana Sampath became a leader of the AIADMK – something that never seems to come between mother and son.
In 1984, Elangovan became a first-time MLA after winning from Sathyamangalam on a Congress ticket. Showing his independent streak, in 1988, as a first-time MLA, Elangovan joined four other Congress MLAs in resigning rather than follow the party whip to vote against the Janaki Ramachandran-led AIADMK government. He left the Congress for a while to join the Tamizhaga Munnetra Munnani, founded by Ganesan, but returned to the Congress after the 1989 assembly elections.
In 1996, when veteran Congress leader GK Moopnar split to form the Tamil Manila Congress, Elangovan was one of the senior leaders who remained in the Congress.
By then his ability to unite factions was well known, and in 2002, in his first term as Tamil Nadu party chief, it was Elangovan who facilitated the return of the Tamil Manila Congress to the Congress fold. Ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he managed to bring back P Chidambaram, who had joined the Tamil Nadu Congress and then formed a separate organisation, back to the Congress.
The same year, when the Congress-led UPA formed the government at the Centre, Elangovan won his first Lok Sabha election, from Gobichettipalayam, and was appointed Union Minister of State, holding important portfolios such as petroleum, natural gas, and commerce.
However, Elangovan was defeated in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Then came 2014, when the Congress suffered a massive defeat in the Lok Sabha elections on the Modi wave. Subsequently, almost all senior Congress leaders, including Jayanthi Natarajan, deserted the party.
In November 2014, under these circumstances, the then Congress President Sonia Gandhi chose Elangovan to lead the party again in Tamil Nadu. He remained in office until June 2016, and in 2019, tried again for the Lok Sabha elections, but failed.
But, under his leadership, the Congress saw a resurgence in Tamil Nadu, and in 2014, it won eight assembly seats. He was a tireless traveller, covering the state, organizing protests and raising issues such as corruption and good governance. His long association with trade unions, particularly the transport wing of INTUC, helped, while the IT wing of the state Congress saw a push.
Elangovan was seen as instrumental in bringing the outspoken actor-turned-politician Khushboo into the party in 2014 after he quit the DMK, and sought space for other young talent in the party. Many of these young colleagues, such as Karur MP S Jothimani, addressed him as “Appa (father)”.
Now in the BJP, Khushboo told The Indian Express that working under Elangovan was one of the best phases of her political career. “He was a leader who believed in inclusiveness. He believed that everyone should walk together. He remembered every worker by name. He also had a terrific sense of humor, and was easygoing, approachable and approachable. Everyone in the party felt safe in his presence. I feel like I’ve lost an older brother.”
One of the reasons for the Congress’ enduring alliance with the DMK was Elangovan’s warm relationship with both Karunanidhi and the current DMK chief and CM, MK Stalin.
In his condolence message on Saturday, Stalin called Elangovan “a dear friend who had the ability to speak from the depths of his heart”, and added: “His demise has caused a great loss to Tamil Nadu politics due to his long lasting political legacy. damaged.”
In January 2023, Elangovan suffered the biggest shock of his life when his eldest son Thirumagan E Bhe Ra, MLA from Erode East passed away. Elangovan won the by-election for the said seat.
He is survived by his wife and younger son Sanjay Sampath – who have broken with long family tradition and stayed away from politics.
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package