Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy's mother passes away

Puducherry: Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy's mother Eswariammal died of age-related ailments at a private hospital here, on Thursday night. She was 96.

She had been suffering from age-related ailment, and was admitted to a private hospital here two days back.

Narayanasamy who was away in Delhi, rushed back to Puducherry on hearing the news.

Narayanasamy lost his father, Velu, a toddy tapper, in his childhood itself. After his father's death, Eswariammal took responsibility of the family, including the education of her five children.

"The chief minister was very close to his mother, since she was taking care of the family, and he being the elder son of the family shared the responsibility of the family with her," said sources close to the Chief Minister.

Leaders cutting across party lines expressed condolences to the Chief Minister on his mother's death.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, DMK president MK Stalin, spoke to the Chief Minister over phone.

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, DMK leader Kanimozhi, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan, former DMK minister in Tamil Nadu, K Ponmudi, were among others who condoled the death in person.

Since Thursday night, the residence of the Chief Minister was teeming with visitors who had turned up to pay their last respects to the departed soul.

Other political leaders who turned up to pay last respects included AINRC chief N Rangasamy, ministerial colleagues of Narayanasamy, speaker V Vaithilingam, Lok Sabha member R Radha Krishnan, BJP president V Saminathan, legislators, senior officials including DGP Sundari Nanda among others.