Current Affairs Former Union Minister Dalit Ezhilmalai passed away at 74

Former Union Minister Dalit Ezhilmalai passed away at 74

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Former Union Minister of State for Health Dalit Ezhilmalai passed away at 74 in his residence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu due to a cardiac arrest.
He was born on 24th July 1945 in Irumbedu village, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu

ABOUT Mr. Ezhilmalai

He served in the Former Post & Telegraph Department of the Government of India Between 1963 and 1987 and deputed to the Army for five years.
He participated in the Indo-Pak War of 1971 as an army officer and received Sainik Sewa Medal for his meritorious service.
He was one of the founding members of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and was the first general secretary of the party in 1989.
He became Union Minister of State for Health in Vajpayee government in 1998-99.
He was the last Dalit MP from the State who was elected from a general constituency.
In 2001, the then general secretary of AIADMK, J Jayalalithaa, fielded Ezhilmalai from Tiruchy in the by-election.