By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil Nadu’s principal opposition party DMDK suffered a major setback Tuesday with its senior and seasoned leader Panruti S. Ramachandran announcing his retirement from active politics owing to poor health.
DMDK’s presidium chairman Ramachandran quit the party and also his position as member of the legislative assembly.
Ramachandran, also deputy leader of opposition, handed over his resignation letter to speaker P. Dhanapal. In his letter, Ramachandran had cited his health condition as the reason for quitting.
With Ramachandran’s resignation, DMDK’s strength in the Tamil Nadu assembly comes down to 28.
Already, seven DMDK legislators have turned rebel and are acting in support of the ruling AIADMK.
However, downplaying the impact of Ramachandran’s resignation five months ahead of the 2014 general elections, a DMDK legislator, not wanting to be named, told IANS: “He (Ramachandran) has quit party and politics, citing his age. His quitting will not affect the party.”
Ramachandran, 76, and an engineering graduate was elected to the assembly from Alandur constituency in May 2011.
He was first elected to the assembly from Panruti constituency as a DMK candidate in 1967 and 1971. He was elected in 1977, 1980 and 1984 on AIADMK ticket. In 1991, he was elected to the assembly as PMK candidate.
Ramachandran was not available for his comments despite several attempts by IANS.