Chief Minister Jayalalithaa paid homage to senior AIADMK functionary Sulochana Sampath, who died after a brief illness on Saturday.
Condoling the demise of Ms. Sampath, Ms. Jayalalithaa recalled her contribution to bringing women into the public sphere and to fighting for equal rights for women. “She worked more for the welfare of society than for her family,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Ms. Sampath, 84, was married to the nephew of Dravidian icon Periyar, E.V.K. Sampath, who along with former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) before leaving the party to join the Congress. Ms. Sampath was also the mother of E.V.K.S. Elangovan, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Pointing to the different roles performed by Ms. Sampath in the AIADMK, Ms. Jayalalithaa said her passing away was a big loss to her and the party.
DMK chief's condolence
In a condolence message, DMK president M. Karunanidhi said though he had not met her recently, he knew her well from the time her husband Mr. Sampath was alive. “I am well aware of the contributions she made with a Dravidian spirit,” he said in a statement. Political parties, including the Tamil Maanila Muslim League, expressed condolence over the senior politician’s death.
