K Thangavelu, politician
K Thangavelu, a Marxist leader and former MLA who cut his teeth as a banian mill worker and went on to spearhead many successful agitations for labour rights in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, died of COVID-19 in Coimbatore on September 13, 2020.
The 68-year-old party veteran and trade unionist, who was treated for coronavirus at a hospital for the past 14 days passed away early on Sunday, the CPM said. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
A Marxist ideologue, he was renowned for his lectures on Marxism and leadership qualities and had been a state executive committee (known as state secretariat in the party) member for about 25 years.
Thangavelu started his life as a banian mill worker and he led many successful agitations for the labour rights of the mill wor...