Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Mar 7 (ANI): Actor turned politician Rajinikanth on Saturday paid last tributes to DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan, who passed away in Chennai earlier today.
"Peraasiriyar (professor) death is a huge loss. He was in public life for more than 60 years. He was known for two things -Value and respect. My deepest condolence to his family members, Thalabathi (Stalin) and his party cadres," Rajinikanth said.
K Anbazhagan passed away on Saturday at the age of 97 at a hospital in Chennai following a prolonged illness. Anbazhagan served as the General Secretary of the DMK for 43 years.
He was appointed to the party General Secretary post in 1977. He was a nine-time MLA, one-time Lok Sabha member and former finance minister of Tamil Nadu and a close friend of former Chief Minister late Karunanidhi.
Anbazhagan was called Peraasiriyar (professor) as he worked as a lecturer in Pachayappa college from 1944 to 1957, later he resigned and contested election.
DMK President MK Stalin released a statement on Anbazhagan's death on Saturday.
"DMK condoles the demise of General Secretary K. Anbazhagan. DMK postpones all its party functions for one week and all DMK flags to fly half-mast for a week," the statement read. (ANI)