Tamil Nadu agriculture minister R Doraikannu passes away two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Doraikannu, who was battling COVID-19, has died, a private hospital said on Sunday. The 72-year-old minister breathed his last late on Saturday night, Kauvery Hospital Executive Director Dr Aravdindan Selvaraj said in a medical bulletin. “With deep grief, we announce the sad demise of Honourable Minister for Agriculture R Doraikkannu,” on Saturday at 11.15 pm, he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family during this difficult period,” he added. Doraikkannu was undergoing treatment here, after being shifted from a government medical college hospital in Villupuram on 13 October, where he was admitted to after he complained of uneasiness. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit condoled the death of Daoraikkannu and said he was saddened to know about the demise of the minister. Doraikkannu “was known for his simplicity, humbleness, straightforwardness, governance skills, and commitment towards the welfare of farming community… He handled the Ministry of Agriculture with full dedication and engraved his strong mark. His untimely demise is an irreparable loss to the people of Tamil Nadu and particularly to the AIADMK party,” he said in his condolence message. Purohit conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved members of the family and said he prayed to the Almighty God to rest his soul in peace. Doraikkannu was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly from Papanasam in Thanjavur district in 2006, 2011, and 2016, with the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa inducting him in the cabinet in 2016. The minister’s health had suffered a significant deterioration in vital functions last Sunday. The hospital had said on Monday that the minister was being treated for severe COVID pneumonia and its complications. A CT scan had shown 90 percent lung involvement vis-a-vis the infection and he was put on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and ventilator. On 13 October, the minister experienced unease when he was on his way to attend the funeral of Davusayammal, Chief Minister K Palaniswami’s mother, who had died at the age of 93 at Salem. Doraikkannu, who was travelling in his car, was rushed to the government medical college hospital in Villupuram and from there was shifted to Kauvery hospital the same day.