S.P. Jayaraman, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLA from the Vandavasi constituency, died at the Cancer Institute on Monday morning after a brief illness.
He was 56 and is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.
DMK president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi visited the Cancer Institute and paid homage to his party member. Later, the body of the deceased MLA was taken to his native village Chengadu near Cheyyar where it was laid to rest. Food Minister E.V. Velu and Tiruvannamalai District Collector M. Rajendran were among those who paid their last respects.
Mr. Jayaraman held the post of the DMK Adi Dravidar welfare wing’s Tiruvannamalai district deputy secretary. In the May 2006 Assembly elections, he was elected from the Vandavasi (reserved) constituency on his maiden attempt, defeating the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam nominee by a margin of over 20,000 votes.