Puducherry [India]: Senior Congress leader and former Puducherry Chief Minister MDR Ramachandran passed away on Sunday evening at the age of 90 due to ill health. His death marks the end of a long and influential political career that spanned decades in the Union Territory.
In response to the loss, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy announced that the government would observe three days of mourning in honour of the late leader. The Chief Minister also confirmed that Ramachandran’s last rites will be performed with full state honours.
“I would like to inform you that the Puducherry government will observe three days of mourning for the former Chief Minister, and his last rites will be performed with full state honours,” said N Rangasamy in his announcement.
A Long Political Journey
Ramachandran’s political journey began in 1969, when he contested from the Nettappakkam constituency on a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ticket, defeating former Chief Minister Venkatasubba Reddy and securing his first term as an MLA. Over the years, he represented both the DMK and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), winning the MLA seat seven times.
He contested from the Mannadipattu constituency on the AIADMK ticket in 1974 and 1977, then on the DMK ticket in 1980, 1985, and 1990, and once again on the AIADMK ticket in 2001, emerging victorious each time.
Chief Ministerial Tenure
Ramachandran served as the Chief Minister of Puducherry on two occasions during his tenure with the DMK:
- From January 16, 1980, to June 23, 1983,
- And again from March 8, 1990, to March 2, 1991.
Political Shift to Congress
In 2000, Ramachandran left the DMK and joined the Indian National Congress. He became the Puducherry Assembly Speaker from June 11, 2001, to May 26, 2006. He also served as the Vice-President of the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee.
Ramachandran’s contributions to Puducherry’s political landscape have left an indelible mark, and his passing is mourned by many across the Union Territory.